politics

Suga upholds Japan's apologies for wartime aggression, comfort women

57 Comments

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

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

57 Comments
Login to comment

Good, once again contrary to those out there who continue to misrepresent and lie that Japan has 'never' apologized or atoned for its past.

Ignorant politicians making idiotic statements or doing stupid things does NOT negate the historical record of these apologies and compensation.

23 ( +33 / -10 )

Japan has repeatedly apologized and paid for its war crimes, yet South Korea denies that it paid and indoctrinates its children to hate Japan while exploiting its victim status.

Just two years ago, people were refusing to refuel Japanese cars, harassing a US official for having a moustache similar to a long dead Japanese general's, and trying to break into the Japanese embassy. The government threatened to scrap GSOMIA and lied about consulting the US. Its children drew pictures of Japan bring nuked, and a district tried to make it mandatory to put stickers in classrooms that say “This device was made by a war criminal”. My classmates in high school spit on me for wanting to study in Japan. My own parents constantly reminded me what Japan did as if it happened yesterday instead of seventy years ago.

Koreans are so obsessed with victimizing themselves that three people set themselves on fire at protests in the last six years. When a Korean professor proved that some Koreans became comfort women voluntarily or helped recruit other Koreans, she was sued for defamation.

South Korea needs to stop pretending like it's waiting for an apology or compensation. Korea's hatred against Japan is like a festering virus that will never die no matter how many times Japan apologizes, as long as Koreans keep indoctrinating their children to believe they are are owed something.

22 ( +30 / -8 )

Japan needs to official apologize in terms of international standards. So far, it has not.

-13 ( +9 / -22 )

*“Tokyo’s apologies have been perceived as too little, too late. Even worse, its politicians repeatedly shock survivors and the global community by denying past atrocities; its history textbooks whitewash its wartime crimes," Lind writes. "Japan sees itself as a pacifist, cooperative, and generous global citizens, with a strong antiwar and antinuclear identity. But after sixty years, Japan’s neighbors still see bayoneted babies. Relations between Japan and its former victims remain fraught with distrust.”*

*bayoneted babies? Just Amazing **There're still people who believe this completely proven fake photo.*

Because ethnic Koreans or others reporter repeat the same news through well-known media, that doesn't make fabrication historical truths. Lies are lies.

3 ( +15 / -12 )

Curious, whether Japan and the US will ever admit to all the nastiness committed by Unit 731 .

Apologies for an RT video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFEgz8NNmVA

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

“Tokyo’s apologies have been perceived as too little, too late. 

Japan needs to official apologize in terms of international standards.

South Korea, North Korea, and China perceive Japan’s apologies as insufficient, but other countries that were victims, such as Taiwan, don’t seem to have grievances. Perhaps part of the problem lies within the aforementioned countries themselves.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Kato: Dear leader, leaders from advanced countries are not coming to Japan for the Olympics.

Suga: Let’s lure Moon. “I stand by the ‘apologies’..... ”

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

Nothing to read here. If you know Japan well, you know apologies are mostly lip service to foreigners. Compare their apologies to their own citizens, even for minor issues…. Straight away 90 degree bows and begging for mercy.

-8 ( +9 / -17 )

It’s a ritual that every Japanese government has to go through to renew its pledge that the country is still fully committed to the post-WW2 world order created and maintained by the US.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

The sentiments expressed then remain valid under Suga, the government confirmed in a written response to questions submitted by an opposition lawmaker.

Did he use the exact words "comfort women"?

oldman_13Today  07:02 am JST

Good, once again contrary to those out there who continue to misrepresent and lie that Japan has 'never' apologized or atoned for its past.

I'd like to see Japan apologize to its own people for making the US drop two nukes on them. Then they would finally stop playing the victim card which permeates their whole historical dialogue on the war.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

A South Korean professor pressed charges against two self proclaimed comfort women, Lee Yong-soo, Kil Wong-ok for their false testimonies and against Ministry of Gender Equality of South Korea for it's erroneously

but intentionally keeping registration of these two as official victims. How ever charges were immediately rejected by the authorities with just a simple response " Kono Danwa exists and admitted it"

These people including media do not understand what Kono danwa admitted and did not admit.

Japan needs and should withdraw Kono Danwa and announce new one to clarify the essence

0 ( +8 / -8 )

More of this... I'm sure haters will say it didn't mean anything and continue to say Japan has never apologized. Germany doesn't do this every few years?

3 ( +11 / -8 )

What… you need to UPHOLD a past apology for it to have any meaning for people today? I suppose if he didn’t there would not have been one?

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

"There is no comparison between Germany and Japan."

Certainly not.

Germany is still to apologise to Greece and return stolen Greek artifacts.

Germany has not apologised properly to Namibia and Togo.

History is beautiful enne.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

There is no comparison between Germany and Japan.

They have had very different reactions to their past and how they approach it. Germany has shown and continues to show genuine repentance and remorse, n all areas of society (except for right-wing groups); in education, government and society in general.

Japan does not even come close to Germany in its understanding and remorsefulness of its actions during WW2 and there are multiple reasons for this.

Wanna know the actual difference between Japan and Germany? Well, Japan's war time atrocities happened because of few people at the top while Germany's atrocities happened because of people of Germany. So, we really can't compare Japanese atrocities with that of German atrocities.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

Does it matter?

Nothing and I mean nothing short of every Japanese personally going to Korea and China kissing the rear of every person living back then, their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, pet dog, cat, budgie, etc... followed by a few Million dollars each will change anything.

At this point nothing any Japanese PM or government couldn't say or do will change anything, especially in South Korea that sees Japan as a possible ATM and needs a unifying enemy to distract from it's domestic problems/scandals and problems with North Korea.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Curious, whether Japan and the US will ever admit to all the nastiness committed by Unit 731 

It is public knowledge. Both the Soviets and the US went light on the Japanese medical experts in that unit that they captured in exchange for their knowledge. It is not a secret.

I can tell you as a US Navy pilot we were given detailed information on how long a human can survive in the open ocean at various air and water temperature combinations. We were also told quite directly that the data was the result of Nazi experiments on prisoners, mostly Jewish prisoners but also allied POWs who perished in these experiments. No one hid the fact. It was a very quiet classroom. All of us were uncomfortable, but we also knew our chances of surviving a bailout in cold water was nil unless we use those hot, constricting, clumsy dry suits we were issued and were diligent to use all the other survival gear we had. But it was made clear we all owed a debt of gratitude to the poor souls who died to make that knowledge available.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Nothing and I mean nothing short of every Japanese personally going to Korea and China kissing the rear of every person living back then, their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, pet dog, cat, budgie, etc... followed by a few Million dollars each will change anything.

Just copy the German model. Send your top officers from all three branches of the JSDF to lay a wreath and say contrite words on the anniversaries of specific Japanese atrocities at the site they took place. Example, a delegation should stand on the USS Arizona Memorial, which sits across the hulk of the sunken battleship which is visible beneath on a December 7th and say something by way of an apology. Same thing in Nanjing, in Shanghai, in Singapore and elsewhere. Do that year after year and the rest of Asia will understand Japan has atoned. Best yet, make sure Japanese school books tell the whole story completely and honestly.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

If you have read into the atrocities committed by Japan against Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and China it’s pretty easy to understand why there is still so much bitterness and aggression towards Japan. The facts that many Japanese historians downplay and deny the atrocities does nothing to ease the tensions. Yes, Japan has apologized and paid compensation, but it is going to take many generations to overcome the bitterness, if it ever happens.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

There are political incentives on the part of Chinese and Korean politicians, all of whom were born years after "the war" came to an end, to keep this trick guilt card hanging over Japan's head for all eternity. It serves a purpose domestically to keep the "us and them" hatred simmering at a boil for as long as they can, if only to play "look not here, but there!" with their local constituents.

There's nothing that Japan could do that would satisfy these modern-day political opportunists. So stop trying. The demands for more and more, and claims of not nearly enough, will NEVER END, so long as local politios find it an useful weapon to wield at home.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Hito BitoToday  12:43 pm JST

There are political incentives on the part of Chinese and Korean politicians, all of whom were born years after "the war" came to an end, to keep this trick guilt card hanging over Japan's head for all eternity. It serves a purpose domestically to keep the "us and them" hatred simmering at a boil for as long as they can, if only to play "look not here, but there!" with their local constituents.

Japanese right-wing politicians do quite nicely for themselves by playing the "victors' justice victim" card, and pretending they give a crap about all the Japanese people needlessly sacrificed by the wartime regime when they're "praying" at Yasukuni.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

How many times a year does Japan have to apologize?

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Best yet, make sure Japanese school books tell the whole story completely and honestly.

why are you under the impression that Japan doesn't do this? I mean, my daughter is studying in this country and she's well aware about Japanese Atrocities. Yes, they teach the whole story.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

All this will never satisfy the folks who want to keep their hatred of Japan alive for their own reasons. Japan has apologized multiple times, and this is inspite of the fact that both the perpetrators and victims of Japan's wartime aggression are long gone now.

You can't hold the current generations of Japan responsible for something that happened during WW2. Just like you can't hold a son responsible for the crimes of his father.

Secondly, not trying to justify Japan's actions here but the motive and intent behind Japan's aggression during WW2 was not much different from the motivations of those European powers who came to Asia to trade but went on to rule by deceit, moral duplicity and raw power. Only the methods were different for which it paid the price by being thoroughly defeated.

Japan does not need to apologize any more because China and South Korea will keep their hatred of Japan alive in any case for their own domestic political compulsions.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

If you have read into the atrocities committed by Japan against Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and China it’s pretty easy to understand why there is still so much bitterness and aggression towards Japan. 

If you also knew the history of what the Koreans did to eachother, the Vietnamese, what the USA did to the Philippines, the Chinese did in Korea, to their own people etc..

And in all these cases only the Japanese are consistently being demand more apologies or should I really say more MONEY, because in the end it always returns to the Money issue!

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Wanna know the actual difference between Japan and Germany? Well, Japan's war time atrocities happened because of few people at the top while Germany's atrocities happened because of people of Germany. So, we really can't compare Japanese atrocities with that of German atrocities.

For another point, Nazi's persecution programs against Jews and other minorities had already gone underway before the war and during peacetime. The Holocaust is thus NOT a war crime. Its nature of mass killings is closer to that of the Soviet Union under Stalin's reign, the Cultural Resolution under Mao or Cambodia under Pol Pot.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

The unity of South Korean is illiteratly amazing but Japan is still strong at defence since the 2nd world war. Keep up!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"Japanese right-wing politicians do quite nicely for themselves by playing the "victors' justice victim" card, and pretending they give a crap about all the Japanese people needlessly sacrificed by the wartime regime when they're "praying" at Yasukuni."

Wow! You managed to completely ignore the entire point of my comment, and play "look not here, but there" game for yourself!

lol. Pat yourself on the back.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Well its is the proof of official apologies existence it still vlid in international rules bt not applicable to sk exit loop

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Retribution, no forgive and move on

The people of Japan must be given the customary annual political; punishment beating.

The comparison with Germany?

Germany's AfD: How right-wing is nationalist Alternative for Germany?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37274201 .

You are living in cloud cuckoo land.....

Alexander Gauland drew criticism for declaring that Germans should be "proud" of their soldiers in both world wars. While SS units were notorious for German atrocities in World War Two, the regular armed forces also committed many war crimes.

And to hold up the Germany as the bastion of atonement for war crimes?

What can be learnt, is the question to ask?

How do we educate the coming generations to commemorate, unspeakable atrocities.

That applies to all counties.

The present day Government of China has learnt nothing.

Well, this toxic politically poisonous blame game is futile and frankly shameful..

The annual insistence that J Government, it people grovels in sorrow stops, ends.

A Royal commission is formed without a politician in sight.   

No international court would for a moment entertain the notion that 21st century Japan has to be held responsible/accountable for historic war crime's, over 80 flipping percent weren't born, the remainer were children.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Disgusting denial of history by kennyG in this comment section. The massacre was widely reported at the time, including by foreign journalists and diplomats present in Nanking. Everyone knew what Japan had done. It's the perfect example of why other countries believe Japan has never truly accepted its past doings; you really are not helping your case.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

I use the the term commemorate as an act of remembrance. I want to be clear on that.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Politicians in both countries are as bad as each other, both play the victim card for their own petty political advantages.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

"This is a incorrect. Both Japan@/ and Germany’s atrocities happened because of people at the top. The people at the top got the citizens to believe certain groups of people weren’t human and so should be slaughtered or treated in humanely. The people of each country then carries out the wishes of their top leaders."

SindhoorGK is correct.

There were differences in the German and Japanese societies at that time. Germans had a large Jewish population who were victimized by the Nazis and the civilians were led into believing the Nazi propaganda.

Japan was ethnically homogeneous (if you leave aside the ethnic Koreans living in Japan). The militarist Japanese government at war time kept the civilians in Japan in the dark about what they were doing abroad. I have read a lot of Japanese literature from that period from common civilians who were opposed to the Japanese war effort. A wave of ultranationalism had swept Japan and those who opposed to the militarists were persecuted, much like the civilians in China today are kept on a tight leash by the CCP and are forced to fall in line.

The common Japanese civilian had no idea what the IJA was doing in Manchuria or China. They believed that their country was fighting a holy war against 'devils and beasts' from America and Britain and that the Shinto goddess would protect them.

Most of the Japanese POW camps were in Manchuria, China and South East Asia. There was no flow of information back home.

That is why those who say that the average Chinese in China today does not represent the CCP should apply the same criteria to the Japanese of that time.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Let's list some facts:

Germany was involved in not 1 but 2 World Wars.

Germany built factories across Europe for the purpose to exterminate people. Wanted to kill all Jewish people. Gay, Gypsy, disabled.

Japan committed crimes Yes. But we did not try to exterminate all Koreans and Chinese. We wanted to conquer them.

In Korea and Taiwan but especially Korea, Japan spent hundreds of Billions building up Korea, USA president in his book mention this himself at the time.

Japan has apologies over 55 times, each PM has done it, Emperor himself has done it. We apologies so much Koreans say it's not sincere anymore.

We paid compensation multiple times, more then Germany, we apologies more then Germany.

Greece, Poland in 2018-2021 are asking Germany for more money and compensation..... What did the Germans say? No More money. No more compensation.

If you allow the victim 100% power. 100% their way..... IT WILL NEVER END!

S. Korea signed contract with Japan 1965 and back away from. Signed comfort woman agreement in 2015 and backed away in 2017.

IF YOU ALLOW S. Korea to decide. IT WILL NEVER END. NO AGREEMENT IS PERMANENT. NO APOLOGY GOOD ENOUGH.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

How many times a year does Japan have to apologize?

The Germans send an official delegation to various of their concentration camps every single year to commemorate their liberation by the Allies. Every single year for decades. There is no plan for the Germans to cease these commemorations. Japan likewise needs to send official delegations each and every year on specific anniversaries of their WWII atrocities and the attack on Pearl Harbor, as well as a VJ day commemoration on the USS Missouri at the same spot on the 0-1 deck where the surrender document was signed.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Japan committed crimes Yes. But we did not try to exterminate all Koreans and Chinese. We wanted to conquer them.

Over 90 % of Allied POWs held in German POW camps survived the war and returned home to their families. Less than 50% of Allied POWs held by the Japanese survived the war. Unlike the Germans, the Japanese used Allied POWs and disposable slave labor and simply worked them to death. An Uncle of mine could have been among those, but instead ended the war disabled from injuries suffered on Guadalcanal and later on. It is comments like yours that make me very proud my mother was part of the Manhattan Project.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

@Desert tortoise

While I agree with few of your points, I think you should also note the difference in the types of system of governments between Japan and Germany before the war and after the war. If you take that into account, don't you think Japan did a lot more than Germany? but yes, If Japan renounces pacifism, Japan should follow Germany's example and do that every year. Right now, Japan doesn't have an military and JSDF is a extension of the police force. I think it's also important to note that it's Germany's democratically elected government that committed the atrocities. Japan does have an emperor now but the emperor he was declared not responsible by USA and allies, Japan's military is dead.

Japan committed crimes Yes. But we did not try to exterminate all Koreans and Chinese. We wanted to conquer them.

Why do you sound proud of this?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

ReasonandWisdomNipponJune 26  10:02 pm JST

Japan committed crimes Yes. But we did not try to exterminate all Koreans and Chinese. We wanted to conquer them.

And in doing so massacred them.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

@Tortoise

It‘s not as if the Allies had spotless integrity.

Shall I put some links to the proofs for what you have done to Japanese soldiers already surrendering under the command "Kill Ja*s soldiers or civilians!" all around those pacific islands?

 Yes, so many civilians, men or women, old or young, even small kids got evaporated in a flash or burned in hellfire in agony due to such indiscriminate attacks purposefully targeted onto civilians by the hands of your mother and her ilk only for the purpose of the experiments and the presentation checking against Soviet union .

And yet, Is Japan requesting for apologies?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Disgusting denial of history by kennyG in this comment section. The massacre was widely reported at the time, including by foreign journalists and diplomats present in Nanking. Everyone knew what Japan had done. It's the perfect example of why other countries believe Japan has never truly accepted its past doings; you really are not helping your case.

Propaganda is as powerful weapon as nukes nowadays. Even Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang was excluded officially from Nanjing Museum. Look very close at what and how CCP excusing itself about on-going real genocides.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

In the words of my favourite Japanese author, Haruki Murakami:

"The issue of historical understanding carries great significance, and I believe it is important that Japan makes straightforward apologies, I think that is all Japan can do - apologise until the countries say: 'We don't necessarily get over it completely, but you have apologised enough. Alright, let's leave it now.'"

Japantoday actually posted an article of this author. Source below.

https://japantoday.com/category/politics/japan-must-apologise-for-wwii-until-it-is-forgiven-novelist-murakami

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

VERY wise decision. No one can run away from history.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

I think it's also important to note that it's Germany's democratically elected government that committed the atrocities. Japan does have an emperor now but the emperor he was declared not responsible by USA and allies, Japan's military is dead.

Once in power the Nazi government of Germany had no elections. It's leaders were never subject to elections. Hitler kept extending the terms of the Reichstag to avoid holding elections during the war. The Reichstag was a rubber stamp for Hitler, passing all proposed laws by unanimous consent. Germans referred to their Reichstag as "the most expensive singing club in Germany" because they sang the German anthem for Hitler at every meeting. At the new Reichstag's first session, Hitler introduced the Enabling Act of 1933, which allowed the government to enact laws on its own authority for a four-year period. With certain exceptions that were always ignored, those laws could deviate from articles in the constitution. Though formally only the Government as a whole could enact laws, Hitler in effect exercised that right by himself.

Japan also had a similarly ineffective rubber stamp parliament during WWII. The IJA simply ran roughshod over Japans parliament of the time and was able to ramrod the desired policies through using wartime emergency powers facilitated by the ideology of a god-emperor.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Waste of effort no apology will ever be accepted by China or Korea. Might as well set the countries to ignore

.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

this has nothing to do with the point he was making. Japan’s intention was to make them part of the empire and make them Japanese. Hitler wanted to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth

Over 90 % of Allied POWs held in German POW camps survived the war and returned home to their families. Less than 50% of Allied POWs held by the Japanese survived the war

psssh, don’t be too proud of yourself. All your mother’s work did was kill a bunch of women, kids, and old people who had nothing to do with Japan’s miltary.

It is comments like yours that make me very proud my mother was part of the Manhattan Project.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

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