Emperor, empress may visit Pearl Harbor around July

Monday 02nd March, 06:00 AM JST

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

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 39 Total Comments Show All

OssanAmerica at 02:39 PM JST - 2nd March

The reason there are "Japanese-American" groups for the Imperial couple >to even visit, is because, as you say, they are citizens of the U.S.

Yes I already said that.

Respectfully, it is an insult to these folks, as citizens, to say you >want to meet with them, but not "officially" recognize Japan's role in >Pearl Harbor or mourn the Amercian citizens who died there. Talk about >hypocracy!

What "role" regarding Pearl Harbor are the old royal couple not officially recognizing? Have they made some declaration that Japan never attacked Pearl Harbor? And aren't they going to Pearl Harvort to "mourn" for those who died there? Or are they going to gloat and glee?

On one hand, they want to celebrate the fact that many Japanese->Americans are prospering in Hawaii and contributing to the betterment of >the U.S.

Were does it say that in the rticle? Nowhere.

But, on the other hand, ignore the incident that triggered American >citizens having to serve in the war in the first place.

They are going to Pearl Harbor. Most people would say that's not ignoring Pearl Harbor.

As you say, if >the US and JSDF forces are already training together >anyway, why can't >they "officially" pay their respects to the roughly >3,000 folks who died >there? Oh, that's right, because Japan, unlike the >U.S., just >can't "officially" move on.

As I've already explained but it went way above your head, official acts call for official responses. Pelosi didn't "officially" visit the Hiroshima Memorial and there's no need for anyone to "officially" visit Pearl Harbor. Nobody's calling for it on a diplomatic level because it would start a never ending exchange of official visits. It simply isn't necessary. The most important point made in the artile is that "If realized, it would be a moment to symbolize the postwar reconciliation between the two countries:, a point which you seem to be incapable of comprehending.
gamera at 02:44 PM JST - 2nd March

Great. They can mingle with the 80 year old veterans who still have not gotten over the war yet.
kwatt at 04:59 PM JST - 2nd March

I wonder why former/today Japanese (prime) ministers have NOT visited Pearl Harbor to pray for deceased soldiers before Emperor and Empress maybe apologize at the memorial during visit to Hawaii. I assume that the real purpose of imperial couple is to visit Hawaii to condole at the memorial although it has been reported that imperial couple may make small visit on the way back to Japan. It seems that bureaucracy never accept that Empror and Empress (maybe want to) condole there.
Tatanka at 05:34 PM JST - 2nd March

No sitting U.S. president or vice president has ever visited Hiroshima. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi is the highest ranking official to ever visit Hiroshima. Personally, I applaud the Emperor and Empress for wanting to visit Pearl Harbor and pay their respects.
nidu at 06:15 PM JST - 2nd March

Oh, that's right, because Japan, unlike the U.S., just an't "officially" move on.

Absolutely!
realist at 07:27 PM JST - 2nd March

I think it is a good thing that the Emperor and Empress are to visit Pearl Harbor. I think it will be good for international relations and also good for Japan. God Bless them both.
jessssicaaa at 08:10 PM JST - 2nd March

I enjoy the argument that is in this comment thing.. and agreeing with OssanAmerica all the way! lol.

THERE i picked a side mwahaha. yes im bored.

I believe its very nice of royals to go to pearl habour if they didnt care then they wouldnt bother right? so its a good move ;]] plus that move saved my country! LOL.
NeoJamal at 10:58 PM JST - 2nd March

Japan don't seem to reflect and learn as much from their past mistakes as them Germans do. Maybe the emperor can help change attitudes in Japan.

Is 'learning from past mistakes' an euphenism for making perpetual political concessions to other countries in spite of Japan's defeat in WWII? I doubt your objectives for such learnings do not end with education, for I know people like you from Allied states turn a blind eye towards the disinterest and apologism undertaken by your fellow countrymen while readily condemning Japan and Germany for missing even the most minor transgressions.
NeoJamal at 11:21 PM JST - 2nd March

No sitting U.S. president or vice president has ever visited Hiroshima. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi is the highest ranking official to ever visit Hiroshima. Personally, I applaud the Emperor and Empress for wanting to visit Pearl Harbor and pay their respects.

It would be deplorable to imagine that no US Head of State will ever visit Hiroshima or Nagasaki despite the circumstance that the Emperor would visit Pearl Harbor to pay his respects. If that should be the case however, it would merely reflect Japan's existing relations with the US as a vassal. The stationing of a US Sasebo naval base in Nagasaki is the very testament of Japan's continuing submission to the US by treading over obvious insensitivites connected with the placement of such installation by the unatoning perpetrator. Therefore, any delusions aiming for mutual reconciliation should stop right now.
Youjinbou at 01:40 AM JST - 3rd March

Japan don't seem to reflect and learn as much from their past mistakes as them Germans do. Maybe the emperor can help change attitudes in Japan.

What do you mean by "learn from their mistakes"? Should they go into another war and show the rest of the world what they learned from WWII?

... as well as the treatment of the defeated and prisoners (Japan in WWII)

Well, if a country is losing a war, and it barely has enough food to feed it's own army, the camp conditions won't exactly be "fun". About the war-crimes... well... I don't think there's an excuse besides "the Imperial Japanese Army (not navy so much) was not the brightest bunch of people"
ca1ic0cat at 03:23 AM JST - 3rd March

I would hope they get some free time at a beach. I bet they could use some time away from all the controversy. Makes me think of that Moxie Fruvous song "King of Spain."
NeoJamal at 08:10 AM JST - 3rd March

What do you mean by "learn from their mistakes"? Should they go into another war and show the rest of the world what they learned from WWII?

Like..THE IRAQ WAR? Lol
Reicheru at 04:01 PM JST - 3rd March

Why should Emperor Akihito have to stand in the shadow of Emperor Hirohito? What is the purpose of revisiting the resentment and recriminations that died in 1945 (when Japan formally surrendered)? Subjecting the Emperor and Empress to this is ridiculous, not to mention undignified and unnecessary. I hope that this trip will be canceled just like the one they planned in 1994.
Thenewfront at 04:14 PM JST - 3rd March

Reicheru: They decided to go. Nobody is forcing them. What are your objections? Pearl harbour didn't really happen , was Needed because of US blockade etc?
Reicheru at 04:21 PM JST - 3rd March

Just because I object to it doesn't mean that I'm some kind of right-wing conspiracy theorist. Gosh...