December 8, 2015
Akahata ‘current’ column
Magosaki Ukeru, former high-ranking official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, published a book this year about the Japanese military’s attack on Pearl Harbor.
On December 8, 1941, Japan accelerated its move towards full-out war. It was the beginning of the end of Japan’s war taking the lives of more than 20 million people in Asia.
On Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack. People in panic shouted, “No, this is not a training! It’s a real air raid!” Along with the sinking of battleships, 2,400 people including civilians were killed in the attacks.
In parallel with the air strikes, the Japanese Army was carrying out landing operations on the Malay Peninsula. Japan was relentlessly expanding its reckless war.
This year marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the war. Many media took up the issue of the disastrous events at that time. Most of them, however, stopped short of going into Japan’s responsibility for its war crimes.
In contrast to Germany having fully accepted its war guilt and thoroughly reflected on its own responsibility, Japan still refuses to face up to its past and win the trust of neighboring countries. The political position successive Japanese governments have taken has been one of obscuring the crimes that Imperial Japan committed as the “perpetrator” during the war.
Japan should guarantee and maintain a society where everyone can speak out freely, said ex-diplomate Magosaki. He pointed out that this is the lesson Japan should have learnt from its past mistakes that led to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
A lot of people, men and women, young and old in Japan are now calling for the abolition of the war legislation, a set of laws enabling Japan to engage in wars again. They began standing up in order not to repeat the same pain and sadness the people experienced in the past.
Past related articles:
> Major parties want prewar Japan revived in 71st year after Asia-Pacific War [December 9, 2012]
> On 70th year marking opening of Asia-Pacific War [December 8, 2011]
> Japan’s war compensation remains unresolved December 8, 2010]
Magosaki Ukeru, former high-ranking official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, published a book this year about the Japanese military’s attack on Pearl Harbor.
On December 8, 1941, Japan accelerated its move towards full-out war. It was the beginning of the end of Japan’s war taking the lives of more than 20 million people in Asia.
On Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack. People in panic shouted, “No, this is not a training! It’s a real air raid!” Along with the sinking of battleships, 2,400 people including civilians were killed in the attacks.
In parallel with the air strikes, the Japanese Army was carrying out landing operations on the Malay Peninsula. Japan was relentlessly expanding its reckless war.
This year marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the war. Many media took up the issue of the disastrous events at that time. Most of them, however, stopped short of going into Japan’s responsibility for its war crimes.
In contrast to Germany having fully accepted its war guilt and thoroughly reflected on its own responsibility, Japan still refuses to face up to its past and win the trust of neighboring countries. The political position successive Japanese governments have taken has been one of obscuring the crimes that Imperial Japan committed as the “perpetrator” during the war.
Japan should guarantee and maintain a society where everyone can speak out freely, said ex-diplomate Magosaki. He pointed out that this is the lesson Japan should have learnt from its past mistakes that led to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
A lot of people, men and women, young and old in Japan are now calling for the abolition of the war legislation, a set of laws enabling Japan to engage in wars again. They began standing up in order not to repeat the same pain and sadness the people experienced in the past.
Past related articles:
> Major parties want prewar Japan revived in 71st year after Asia-Pacific War [December 9, 2012]
> On 70th year marking opening of Asia-Pacific War [December 8, 2011]
> Japan’s war compensation remains unresolved December 8, 2010]
