There are many people who don't know anything about the war, not only the suffering of the Japanese people, but there are also things that Japanese people did, bad things. Unless we teach these things to future generations, I don't think wars will end.

War will never end. It has some value to the person sharing his/her experience but it does really nothing in preventing wars. But yes I agree that the Japanese Imperial army was brutal but Americans were simply demons,

"US Air Force general Curtis LeMay, the man who ordered the raids across Japan, once said the US military "scorched and boiled and baked to death more people in Tokyo on that night than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined".

He acknowledged that if he had been on the losing side, he would be charged with war crimes.

And the evidence lies deep in the vaults of a memorial in central Tokyo, where large urns contain the ashes of more than 100,000 civilians."

And US is still waging wars all over the plane.

Before attacking the US and killing over 1,000 people, know they will go to war, completely, to win and throw the opposing govt out, over such actions. Hundreds of thousands or millions will be killed. Period.

In the US there's a saying - "all is fair in love and war." There are now limits for what the military will do, but the phrase hasn't changed.

Very few Americans think the US did anything wrong in WW2. It was all necessary to win, is the common belief. They claim the moral high ground because of the attack on Pearl Harbor where thousands were killed. The real story is seldom so simplistic.

Of course how could it be controversial my friend, Americans are blood thirsty people. And the truth is the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing did not force the Japan govt to surrender. it was the Russian army that forced the Japan govt to surrender.

There was never an excuse to kill civilians deliberately, recklessly, and wantonly in war and peace.

When the Japanese entered Manila city, no fire was shot but how come Manila city was the 2nd most bombed city in WWI after Berlin? You know who did it.

War is horror and discussions about such horrors always have many sides.

But, whatever ones opinions the now old tired cliche rings true - "There are no winners in war - only losers".

And for sure America's war history cannot escape the fact of outright brutality heaped upon citizens in many places, with perhaps the most infamous being Japan & Vietnam. Vietnam was a planned annihilation of combatants and citizens, a testing ground for the weapons of a formidable Industro-War complex. Over double the bombs dropped in Vietnam (and Laos & Cambodia) than the whole of WW2. And the insidious use of agent orange killing, sickening and disfiguring 100,000s for generations to come. The killing fields if ever there was one. And the US needs to own this history.

And by the same token - as the article indicates - Japan needs to own it's warring history. The govt & others don't need to worry about, "But, yeah the Americans did atrocities" as that diverts attention from ones own ghouls of the past. Japan was under crazed totalitarian rule who only saw benefit for their twisted ideologies, power & pride and discarded the Japanese people as nothing but dirty rags. The great shame was so many citizens suffered directly as a result of the leaders decisions and actions. The horror inflicted upon the people of Asia is well documented and discussed, but the horror the govt inflicted upon it's own citizens through it's brainwashing and cruel suppression needs to be openly discussed every Aug 15th.

Not just the line that "We must end all wars and pray for peace", but also, "We the people, must never ever let our lives be controlled by brutal war-mongering leaders".

Take part in politics, be active in voice and action for peace, speak out often and strongly against injustices. Only then can a path to true rights & peace be found.

But, whatever ones opinions the now old tired cliche rings true - "There are no winners in war - only losers".

Yes, the thing that needs to be utterly destroyed are the "see you at Yasukuni" type myths of glory. Those men left widows and orphans, some of whom were then killed or maimed themselves in the biggest air raids in history. I see no glory there.

It seems many of you have not read or understood your own history. You accuse the Americans of being blood-thirsty demons while forgetting about the Rape of Nanking, the Bataan Death March, your own racist demagoguery of the Americans that lead to the suicides of tens of thousands of your own civilians in Okinawa rather than be captured by the Americans and the specter of millions of more Japanese civilians committing sepukku or other suicidal acts if the US has gone forward with Operation Olympic. Should the US have waited until Japan produced a viable nuclear bomb from its own nuclear weapons program? The fact is that if Japan had any type of weapon, it used it on its enemies. From toxic gases to balloons with fire bombs attached to rape and the murder of civilians to the lives of its young men in suicide charges and kamikaze attacks; the Japanese showed little compunction from using any and every thing it had available in its arsenal. Look beyond what they have taught you in your schools.....because the truth is at your fingertips.

It's extremely important to teach people about the past and the wrongs committed by nations, especially the larger imperialist nations.

But for some reason, it seems plenty in Japan (and America) don't want that. Instead, they claim their history is being changed or denigrated.

Challenge yourselves, folks. Education is a good thing.

It seems many of you have not read or understood your own history.

I'm not sure how many - if any - of the posters are Japanese, Edwin.

I do know that Americans treated their Pacific adversaries as subhuman:

‘… the flamethrower is easily the most cruel, the most terrifying weapon ever developed. If it does not suffocate the enemy in his hiding place, its quickly licking tongues of flame sear his body to a black crisp. But so long as the J@p refuses to come out of his holes and keeps on killing, this is the only way.’

LIFE magazine, Aug 13, 1945. A J@p Burns (warning: graphic triumphalist pørn)

https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=1UkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32&hl=ja&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false

It's extremely important to teach people about the past and the wrongs committed by nations, especially the larger imperialist nations.

No need for anything after the comma in that sentence.

Apologists for all kinds of atrocities, in Asian countries in particular, love to trot that line out. Very sinister.

Every country needs to look at its own atrocities for what they were. No need to bring in nations you have a particular dislike of.

Apologists for all kinds of atrocities, in Asian countries in particular, love to trot that line out. Very sinister.

I believe the scope of this particular poster's 'line' goes far beyond Asia, to include more recent conflict familiar to yourself, Jimizo.

Of course how could it be controversial my friend, Americans are blood thirsty people.

No, we are not, but we are not a nation that believes in turning the cheek, I firmly believe in an eye for an eye.

And the truth is the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing did not force the Japan govt to surrender. it was the Russian army that forced the Japan govt to surrender. 

There was never an excuse to kill civilians deliberately, recklessly, and wantonly in war and peace.

But for some reason, it seems plenty in Japan (and America) don't want that. Instead, they claim their history is being changed or denigrated.

I can’t speak for Japan, but for America as bad as the bombing was I think it was very necessary given the situation at the time and I don’t think we should regret it nor celebrate it. If someone attacks my family and I take revenge on the person responsible I don’t believe that I have to turn the other cheek when the other person caused so much pain suffering and devastation in my family and tried to hurt me. War is not pretty and war is very ugly, this is a reason why we shouldn’t, but we have been doing it for over 2000 years, so it is inevitable that we could have one somewhere on the planet again.

@erbaviva

When the Japanese entered Manila city, no fire was shot but how come Manila city was the 2nd most bombed city in WWI after Berlin? You know who did it.

That's a really bad example. Manila suffered terribly under the occupation in the final days. You obviously don't know what Japanese troops did there.

You should watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBZjTbotmg0

Tangerine2000...it was the action of Gen Douglas McArthur that led to the atrocities. Gen Yamashita is going to move his troops out of Manila to make his final stand along Lingayen gulf but McArthur cordoned the whole city and started bombing the hell out of Manila. The Japanese troops with everything to lose started to kill their prisoners. The bloodshed could have been avoided but Yes go ahead love your Americans.

Just a note, after Philippines was destroyed to the ashes, the Americans wanting not to extend money to rebuilt the Philippines decide to declare independence and therefore those people who risk their lives protecting the Americans who came and subjugated the country got nothing.

Yes, the Japanese Imperial Army were brutal, but the Americans were demons. Why don't you read Pork Chop hills, Agent Orange and how the US massacred hundreds of thousands of civilians just because they were bloodthirsty,

@browny1

Great post.

@bass4funk

For probably the first time ever, I voted you up. I'm 100% with you on this. I'm not American, but there's no doubt in my mind that U.S. conduct in WW2 was top notch.

...there's no doubt in my mind that U.S. conduct in WW2 was top notch.

The US soldiers were no angels. They executed Japanese who surrendered, mutilating their bodies for souvenirs. The firebombing of Tokyo, killing 100,000 or more, intentionally cutting off escape routes for people, would have been a war crime if Germany or Japan had done something similar. The occupation of Japan was halted and troops were ordered to stand down by MacArthur because of murders, rapes and robberies in the first months.

The first casualty of war is truth.

Comparatively speaking...

@erbaviva

it was the action of Gen Douglas McArthur that led to the atrocities. Gen Yamashita is going to move his troops out of Manila to make his final stand along Lingayen gulf but McArthur cordoned the whole city and started bombing the hell out of Manila. The Japanese troops with everything to lose started to kill their prisoners. The bloodshed could have been avoided but Yes go ahead love your Americans

I am not referring to the killing of prisoners.

Nobuko Bamba, statement is heartfelt, straight to the point.

Educators, historians, the people would be forgiven for the assumption that this undertaking would be a simple endeavor.

However, twentieth century history, from a classroom perspective, the emphasis placed on syllabus, commemoration, war memorials in particular, defines a nations collective memory.   

Also, it is worth remembering, especially in reforming history text books, Political ideology, has a tendency to demand classroom teaching is structured in a manner that either ignores, or simply omits crucial subject matter.

both sides of history should be remembered.

Note the use of "both" versus "all." The Pacific War was not just Japan versus the Western Allies. It was Japan versus everyone else in the world except the Nazis. That ought to give a clear insight into the righteous and morality of Japan's grand adventure. Let's remember that.

Japan's death toll was relatively light, around 2.5 million. The other side was around 30 million. If we remember, we should do so in proportion to those numbers, although we never do, especially this time of year when Japan's victimization orgy mode goes into full gear.

And the truth is the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing did not force the Japan govt to surrender. it was the Russian army that forced the Japan govt to surrender.

I see. That was the game changer that made Hirohito come out from his god room and talk on the radio. Such profound wisdom, how come its the first time Ive read that?

@LongTermer

I don’t know how accurate the idea is, but I certainly remember being taught it in school, over thirty years ago....

Such profound wisdom, how come its the first time Ive read that? [sic]

Have you ever read a book other than a high school history textbook? Or, you could read Truman's handwritten diary, which you can find online, where he say's precisely that the Japanese will surrender when Russia declares war on Japan on, or after, August 15th as agreed with Stalin.

The truth comes knocking at the door and you send it away.