Abe's view of history shows he is not qualified to be prime minister

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Abe's view of history shows he is not qualified to be prime minister

When inquired about his understanding of Japan's past war on September 11, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe Shinzo, who is the leading candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party president, said, "Analyses of specific historical facts should be left to historians."

Abe has avoided committing himself to a question whether the next government will adhere to the Murayama Statement in which then Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi in 1995 expressed official government remorse and apology for Japan's "colonial rule and aggression."

Whether Japan recognizes that its last war was a war of aggression and expresses remorse for it has an important bearing on the basis of post-war international society and on the start of Japan's post-war politics.

The Koizumi Cabinet has already caused Japan's diplomatic isolation. Besides, if the next government rejects the Murayama Statement, it will bring about another serious problem in that Japan will reneges on its pledge to Asia and the rest of the world.

In the November 2004 issue of Seiron magazine Abe said, "Since every country has its own unique origin and history, it is fundamentally impossible to share the same view of history" with South Korea and other Asian countries.

Criticizing Abe's remarks, former Japanese Communist Party Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo, stated, "If it is impossible for the international society to share the view on a war, the United Nations cannot discuss issues of war and peace. Objective criteria will tell us if the war is a war of aggression."

Abe's evasive attitude toward historical issues shows that he has not seriously reflected on Japan's war of aggression and colonial rule. In fact, Abe has been standing at the forefront of hawkish young lawmakers' campaign attacking textbooks by negating historical facts about wartime sex slaves.

Newsweek magazine wrote, "But, he's already worrying the neighbor (countries)," and TIME magazine wrote, "It's possible that Abe, who visited Yasukuni in the past and has questioned the validity of the Tokyo trials of Japan's wartime leaders, will worsen the damage (in relations with China and South Korea)."

Abe lacks proper understanding of history and is not qualified to be the prime minister.
- Akahata, September 15, 2006