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Abe says he may drop direct apology in WWII statement

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Is anyone surprised by this in the slightest?

19 ( +20 / -1 )

Relentless stupidity. So depressing.

25 ( +27 / -2 )

He won't, he can't be that stupid...........knocks wood

15 ( +16 / -1 )

"I don't understand why people won't let go of the past and get over it when I repeatedly bring up this issue and hint about that my buddies and I think all that stuff we did back then was actually A-OK!"

11 ( +14 / -3 )

papigiulio: He is that stupid, that arrogant, and that selfish, and he most certainly will. The fact that he is even hinting at it means he'll do 10 times worse. First this, then the next nationalist like Abe will be denying Japan did anything wrong and will suggest Japan sacrificed itself for a better Asia, etc. etc.

Even sadder still is that the rightists in Japan will cheer Abe on for it, and then wonder why other nations around the world can't "forget about the past already" and whine about how, "China and South Korea don't like us!", etc. These people should be ashamed of themselves, as should Abe. But tell them that and they defensively deny and just call you a "Japan basher" or some such nonsense.

26 ( +33 / -7 )

Abe, an unabashed nationalist, made a symbolic donation to Yasukuni shrine, the supposed repository of the country’s war dead...

Why 'supposed'?

Will Germany apologise this year for the wrongs their ancestors did during WW2? If not then why expect Japan to? It was 70 years ago... it's over. Modern Japan isn't the same country it was in 1945. Bit like asking the Italians to apologise for what the Roman Empire did 1000 years ago.

-26 ( +10 / -36 )

It offers a golden opportunity to Obama, he can improve his personal score and justify Nobel Prize by simply issuing a statement : 'conditions apply' for meeting with Abe !

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Will Germany apologise this year for the wrongs their ancestors did during WW2?

I don't really follow German politics, but judging from the fact that I've never really heard of outcries from holocaust survivors about post-war Germany's attitude, I'm guessing they have always apologized and likely will again. It's not uncommon for countries to express remorse about such things, especially on important anniversaries of the event. If the country really believes what they did was wrong of course...

14 ( +15 / -1 )

It offers a golden opportunity to Obama, he can improve his personal score and justify Nobel Prize by simply issuing a statement : 'conditions apply' for meeting with Abe !

That's not how statesmen work....ok right, seeing as both are wannabe's it just might!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

This is so idiotic and pathetic. Nothing to be gained at all in doing such an immature act. These same clueless dunces wonder why their neighbors hate them.

Japan is declining more and more each year. They should be looking outward and doing their utmost to establish positive relations if they want to survive. Instead, they're doing the exact opposite. The arrogance of this country is astounding. Even the US is fed up with their antics.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Will Germany apologise this year for the wrongs their ancestors did during WW2?

They have formally apologised for WW2, especially for the Holocaust where they have a museum and some of the concentration camps have been turned into memorials.

Ironically, Germany couldn't conquer Europe with military power but ended up being the biggest economic power instead.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

This will be good.

J: We apologize.

C.K: That's not enough

J: OK, we don't apologize as much as before!

C,K: No, go back to previous statement! That is better.

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

Thunderbird

It was 70 years ago

So can we also say "why Japan is still remembering the Atomic Bombs dropped at Nagasaki and Hiroshima? it was 70 years ago, stop making memorials and remembrance about it"

21 ( +22 / -1 )

Will Germany apologise this year for the wrongs their ancestors did during WW2? If not then why expect Japan to? It was 70 years ago

Very simply, Germany apologised and at the same time enacted laws against denying war crimes. Thus the rest of Europe has largely moved on. Japan has apologised a bunch of times - true. But then people like Hashimoto, Abe and Ishihara have gone and scored "own goals" for Japan by denying that war crimes occurred. In effect, cancelling out all the apologies.

9 ( +13 / -3 )

noypikantoku, remembering and demanding constant apologies are completely different things. Japan never told China/SK/USA do or not to do something in their own countries.

-20 ( +4 / -24 )

noypikantoku

So can we also say "why Japan is still remembering the Atomic Bombs dropped at Nagasaki and Hiroshima? it was 70 years ago, stop making memorials and remembrance about it"

Whens the last time you heard Japanese PMs demanding an apology about the bombings or the Japanese supreme court granting citizens the right to sue the American government? Rememberance as a domestic matter does not equate to using the event as a political/diplomatic card at every opportunity you get.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

One point in history is messing up a few thousand years of development. You really need some shrinks here.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Japan should improve ties with the other countries that do not demand constant apologies, and stay away from China/SK/USA as much as possible

-28 ( +1 / -29 )

Why 'supposed'?

Because ghosts aren't real.

http://i.imgur.com/OJDnPOR.png

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is going to cause another slump in Toyota, Nissan and Honda sales in China.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I sincerely hope they grill him about it in congress next week.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

I sincerely hope they grill him about it in congress next week

True. He didn't even have the sense to wait until after his US visit to "drop his hints". Thus he has now handed the world's media a load of ammunition to use against him

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Thunderbird2: "Will Germany apologise this year for the wrongs their ancestors did during WW2?"

Germany has FORMALLY apologized on a number of occasions, and Chancellors have visited the concentration camps to lay wreathes, etc. They do apologize pretty much every year as well, yes. So, if they do again this year, for which the nations that suffered under the Nazis appreciate despite knowing the Germans of today had nothing to do with the crimes of past leaders, apologize, will YOU apologize for the question and finally admit Japan needs to do more? My guess is, no, you'll just hide and deflect, insist Japan has done enough despite many saying Japan never did anything wrong, etc.

tinawatanabe: "Japan should improve ties with the other countries that do not demand constant apologies, and stay away from China/SK/USA as much as possible"

If Japan truly were to avoid improving (and notice the functional word, "IMPROVE", given that they are not good as they are because of Japan's past) ties with nations who feel Japan has done wrong in the past and not atoned enough, Japan would have no friends in the world at all. Period. Then you'd be bashing the US and demanding they protect you at the very same time! Oh wait... you already are.

forzaducati: "I sincerely hope they grill him about it in congress next week"

I absolutely hope they do! Abe has been invited to Congress for a number of reasons, all of them economic, but given the reluctance to see eye-to-eye with the US on the TPP issue (and some Republicans have their hands in the pockets of the big beef manufacturers!), and vigorously defend the American auto industry, as well as problems with the base relocation, Abe may well lose some of the 'welcoming' he was given with the invitation before certain deals failed to be met. He'll pull a 2020 Tokyo Olympic Bid "every thing's under control!" and give them a Hatoyama wink, but I hope the mood is questionable enough that they also bring up this issue, and specifically grill him about sex slaves and demand to know why he thinks Japanese diplomats can demand American textbooks be changed. After today's announcement, his donation to Yasukuni, and other ultra-right moves he's going to be on damage control and the defensive leading up to his meeting with Congress, suddenly inviting Chinese leaders and South Koreans to meet and "move forward", then claiming it's not his fault when they refuse, and promising the US lucrative military deals and R&D so that Congress will tone things down if they were planning to object at all, etc.

2 ( +12 / -10 )

I sincerely hope they grill him about it in congress next week.

Or cancel it as US has been denying Japan for it for seven decades.

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

I absolutely hope they do! Abe has been invited to Congress for a number of reasons, all of them economic, but given the reluctance to see eye-to-eye with the US on the TPP issue (and some Republicans have their hands in the pockets of the big beef manufacturers!), and vigorously defend the American auto industry, as well as problems with the base relocation, Abe may well lose some of the 'welcoming' he was given with the invitation before certain deals failed to be met. He'll pull a 2020 Tokyo Olympic Bid "every thing's under control!" and give them a Hatoyama wink, but I hope the mood is questionable enough that they also bring up this issue, and specifically grill him about sex slaves and demand to know why he thinks Japanese diplomats can demand American textbooks be changed. After today's announcement, his donation to Yasukuni, and other ultra-right moves he's going to be on damage control and the defensive leading up to his meeting with Congress, suddenly inviting Chinese leaders and South Koreans to meet and "move forward", then claiming it's not his fault when they refuse, and promising the US lucrative military deals and R&D so that Congress will tone things down if they were planning to object at all, etc.

Spot on

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I am not an expert but I think Mr Abe is trying to do his best for Japan. If you have better policies make your voice heard and not just on the internet......

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

Smith, old bean, Germany has apologised for the Holocaust yes, and made denial a crime. I'm not denying that. But what about the Blitz? What about the people of Europe killed as the German War Machine trundled all over. Those killed by V2 rockets? For Germany to apologise now is pointless... for the same reasons as Japan apologising is pointless. The people of Japan and Germany now are not the same people as the wartime generation. They should not be forced to apologise for something they had no part in. I know that what was done in the name of the Emperor was evil, we all know that... I even had a great uncle captured by the IJA. I just feel that post war generations should NEVER be forced to apologise for their ancestors' actions. Any country.

And no, I won't apologise for my question... I have my opinion and I will stand by it, thank you very much.

And yes, by all means commemmorate those killed by the A Bombs, but don't demand apologies. I don't remember hearing about von Braun apologising for his rockets destroying London.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Abe's cunning plan is:

1) DON'T MENTION THE WAR

2) avoid using the F (ascism) word

3) no condemnation of the J-elites RESPONSIBLE for causing the greatest catastrophe and human tragedy in the country's history

4) instead emphasize " Japan's PEACEFUL CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD PEACE" since the 1945 unconditional surrender ( but omit any mention of J-government support for the Korean War, the Vietnam War and all the other myriad acts of aggression perpetrated by US government leaders in their pursuit of economic and political hegemony that has tragically cost the lives of millions of innocent people around the world during the last 70 years.)

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Inevitably, at some point in the future a Japanese PM will be able to stop apologising and the world will accept it... but Shinzo Abe is certainly not that PM! (In fact, he has probably single handedly set that date back an additional 20-30 years)

7 ( +8 / -1 )

just as Merkel said, you have to face it, this under the carpet thing, no way!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Abe, an unabashed nationalist

... In no way is Abe a nationalist. A nationalist would do whatever was necessary to ensure the safety and security of their own country and people, even if it meant their own death.

There's no way to say what Abe is, but "nationalist" isn't an appropriate description. Someone who needlessly provokes powerful enemies to action against their country with no goal other than their own political advantage isn't a nationalist/patriot/etc.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

How many times do you have to say your sorry about something eventually you have to move on. Japan should be correct about their history and stop neglecting to be.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Japan never told China/SK/USA do or not to do something in their own countries.

Never? How about the Japanese officials that traveled all over the country bribing and protesting the Korean sex-slave statues and memorials?

Want more?

Never is a long time,

6 ( +10 / -4 )

PM Abe should be applauded for taking a bold decision of not issuing any apology statement on the eve of 70 th anniversary of end of WW 2 .

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

You drop it and you will go down

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japan can apologize every day for the next 1000 years and it will never be accepted by China because refusing to accept it is a crucial part of their anti-US-Japan security alliance. Soth Korea will nevre accept it as long as it relies almost entirely on China economically. That both nations already received apologies, signed peace treaties with Japan in 1965 ad 1972 respectively and both benefited from good relations with Japan until China became strong enough to come open with it's territorial expansion plans 4 decades later is not lost on the eyes of the world. As usual AFP is doing everything it can to create conflict. If Abe is not retracting ay previous apology then there is no real need to get your paties in a knot.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

No matter how many times Japan apologizes, it is not going to be enough for China or Korea. Why bother? Did South Korea apologize to Vietnam? Did China apologize to Tibet?

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

I was told by a source that because he only has so much time to make his speech and given he has to mention Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fukushima, Tohoku, things are under control, and Tokyo Olympics 2020, he doesn't have time to make an apology, but he wants Korea, China, and America to know that when he taps his nose with with his pointer finger, it's his way of saying, "My bad for you know, that...yada, yada, yada... And now let's hear it for Momoiro!"

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"I don't really follow German politics, but judging from the fact that I've never really heard of outcries from holocaust survivors about post-war Germany's attitude, I'm guessing they have always apologized and likely will again"

REALLY????

The Greeks are complaining as we speak; try to follow world politics now and again, rather than pointing all yer batteries at poor, little Japan.

As for China and apologies; they will never, ever accept one from Japan, and I beg to differ from all the reasons most posters present.

China just cannot swallow the fact that little Japan developed faster and better than China ever did; and that poor little Japan beat the crap out of them throughout history, never submitting to Chinese arrogance and size.

Whilst they could treat the rest of Asia as they pleased, China could never do the same to Japan; that's what's stuck into their gob and forever will remain in there. Unless China can militarily beat on Japan to get even, this national "humiliation" will live forever, apologies or not!

Korea, they're just little jealous brats, who should be taking back all its citizens and sympathizers who insist in remaining in Japan, notwithstanding all the "appalling discrimination and human rights abuses" perpetrated by the Japanese upon the Koreans.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Japan can apologize every day for the next 1000 years and it will never be accepted by China because refusing to accept it is a crucial part of their anti-US-Japan security alliance. Soth Korea will nevre accept it as long as it relies almost entirely on China economically.

The ignorence of this statement is incredible. And anyonw who would spend eveb two seconds on Google would no that, especially the part about "Soth Korea will nevre accept it as long as it relies almost entirely on China economically." But don't let that stop you from saying it anyway.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

History bad or good proud or shameful is still history. By visiting war shrine Abe likely just doing scientific research...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Very simply, Germany apologised and at the same time enacted laws against denying war crimes. Thus the rest of Europe has largely moved on. Japan has apologised a bunch of times - true. But then people like Hashimoto, Abe and Ishihara have gone and scored "own goals" for Japan by denying that war crimes occurred. In effect, cancelling out all the apologies.

Japan should follow German example. In the future, I would like to see a Japanese PM go to Nanking memorial and then knelt down like what Willy Brandt did.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

This is a classic Abe Shinzo political tactic. Threaten to take away the bread so that we might be grateful later for the crumbs. Problem is that too many people have seen this movie clip before.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I have lived in Austria, Germany and Japan. In my experience most Germans know a lot about the Second World War and genuinely grieve at what the Nazis did, less so the Austrians until more recently. Most Japanese don't seem to know very much at all. "If you don't know your history you are like a cabbage in society" If Abe did apologize he wouldn't mean it would he? Nor would most of the LDP members many of whom are affiliated like their PM with the Nippon Kaigi. Please Japan Today do an article on Nippon Kaigi.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@peeping tom

So you're on the payroll of the propaganda budget are you? If not, why all the vitriol against China and Korea ?

The people who live here and complain, do not want to see their country, they chose to live,in backslide into the 1930s. Some can't get out, because they don't want to abandon their children and families. How dare you tell people who don't agree with Abe, to go to China. What's your vested interest in Japan, where are you ?

Oh that's right, not here that's for sure.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

marcelito, I said "as much as possible" Nothing wrong trying to improve ties with other countries to keep balance, isn't it? There seems many countries in EU trying to distance themselves from US and stay closer to China. Always changing.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Abe thinks just like me. Why do you need to apologise 70 years later? All perpetrators are long dead, Japan is totally different country.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Japan hasn't gone anywhere, it still exists.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The problem is surely the Yasukuni shrine and not the apologies. A country can't apologise endlessly. But it can build a public memorial that recognises the depravity of the Pacific War. Sadly, such a place is lacking in Japan. A simple memorial to all the war dead of all countries. A place where visiting foreign dignitaries can visit and be taken with respect. A place where children can learn about past horrors and mistakes. And a place where you can equally pay respects to those who suffered in Nanjing, the Philippines, the Tokyo fire bombings, the brothels, or in a trench in Burma.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Abe will be signing his own death warrant...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Abe had gone ahead with the offerings because he felt he had nothing to lose given that ties were already frayed. Abe has visited the Southeast Asian countries, but he has yet to visit China or South Korea nor has he held formal bilateral meetings with their leaders. The point is it wouldn't have too much of an impact on prospects of future summits with China and South Korea considering how chances already seemed slim. Abe just doesn't care.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Question: What is the result of the US giving some Japanese war criminals immunity at the end of WW2? Answer: The LDP

Is anyone surprised by this in the slightest?

I'm actually quite surprised how Abe's diplomatic skills are getting from bad to worse.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@noypikantokuAPR. 21, 2015 - 04:56PM JST Thunderbird

It was 70 years ago

So can we also say "why Japan is still remembering the Atomic Bombs dropped at Nagasaki and Hiroshima? it was 70 years ago, stop making memorials and remembrance about it"

rememberng is not same as demanding apology.

Maybe you have info that Japan has been demanding apology? Please write detais of tgis demand. When> Who>

0 ( +1 / -1 )

There is only so many times you can apologise before it loses meaning. Not to mention that an apology given upon demand has no meaning to begin with, since it would be forced and insincere. Then there's the fact that China and South Korea have repeatedly rejected apologies that Japan has given. So why demand more if you're just going to reject them? Or perhaps that's the whole point; to demand apologies, reject them, and demand more in order to satisfy the ego. If so, then they have no right to throw a tantrum when an apology is not forthcoming. Japan has apologised repeatedly, enough is enough. They say this is about atoning for Japan's actions in the '30s and '40s, yet China killed more people, including it's own, in the decades since then. Has the CCP ever apologised for invading Tibet? Has it apologised for slaughtering its own citizens in the Cultural Revolution? Has it apologised to India for attempting to swipe Indian territory during the Sino-Indian Border Dispute? Has it apologised to the Uyghars for invading East Turkestan? Do you want me to keep going? I'm sure I could dig up more of China's atrocities that it has yet to apologise for and is yet not being demanded to make apologies. It is wrong for China to make such demands when its own hands are far from free of blood. Or are we turning a blind eye to that?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

At this point who cares what Abe says. He has already wrecked his credibility and Japan's along with it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I'm actually quite surprised how Abe's diplomatic skills are getting from bad to worse.

Why be surprised? He never had any "skills" in the first place. Abe is not a diplomat, he is a Japanese man raised in a culture where the "man" at the top leads by telling everyone else what to do, and to those who don't follow they get placed (figuratively speaking) in a room with no lights and nothing to do but twiddle their fingers all day.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Fox Sora Winters Apr. 22, 2015 - 07:19AM JST There is only so many times you can apologise before it loses meaning. Not to mention that an apology given upon demand has no meaning to begin with, since it would be forced and insincere.

Japanese system has been creating young people who get annoyed by all the complaints that China and South Korea make about war atrocities because they are not taught what they are complaining about. The J-government deliberately tries not to teach young people the details of Japan's atrocities. If you experience history education in two countries, the way history is taught in Japan has at least one advantage, students come away with a comprehensive understanding of when events happened, in what order. At the age of 14, young Japanese students are clueless of Japan's relations with the outside world. They are taught too late. Young Japanese people often fail to understand why neighboring countries harbor a grudge over events that happened in 1931-45. The reason, in many cases, is that by the time they reach high school, they barely learned any 20th century history. Many young Japanese got a full picture when they left Japan and went to school in foreign countries. It's hardly surprising that some classes, in some schools, never get there, and are told by teachers to finish the book in their spare time.

Many young people in Japan really don't understand the Japan's war history and making the point that many of today's geopolitical tensions stem from what happened then. In Japanese textbook, only a footnote on the Nanjing massacre. Why they couldn't go straight to that period if it was so important, instead of wasting time on the other subject. When students did finally get there, it turned out only few pages dealt with events between 1931-45. Reading many factual books on the incident at least allowed them to understand why many people in China and South Korea still feel bitter about Japan's military past.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Xi met Kono and praised Kono apology. If Abe makes a new apology, he might goof. People who do not have experience of apology, usually say strange things when they try to apology..

2 ( +2 / -0 )

what about the way the Japanese treated/mistreated thousands of Prisoners of WAR. Believe me That is Not forgotten.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

F4HA604

Whens the last time you heard Japanese PMs demanding an apology about the bombings or the Japanese supreme court granting citizens the right to sue the American government?

And why would Japan's PM ask for US's apology about the Atomic Bombings??? These bombings was the result of the Empire of Japan's own fault! Pick up and read a good history book!

tinawatanabe

noypikantoku, remembering and demanding constant apologies are completely different things. Japan never told China/SK/USA do or not to do something in their own countries.

If the person is sincere , he/she will not mind to apologize 2000 times. Especially in an apologetic culture! The act of honoring war criminals especially if you know that your neighbor countries are too sensitive About it, is sign of insincerity!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Abe-kun is in a tricky spot here - He doesn't want to piss off the deluded ultra-conservatists who wish to take Japan back to its former (imaginary) glory days of master race mentality and world domination, yet he knows he can't piss the outside world, specifically China and the US, off too much, either as Japan has got to learn to get along with the outside world if it wants to survive. Ay ay ay...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What an odious little man.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Then there's the fact that China and South Korea have repeatedly rejected apologies that Japan has given.

Because Abe, Hashimoto, Ishihara, and Nakamura have nullified those apologies by denying the transgressions that the apologies were issued for. It's been like this: apology.........denial, apology.............denial, apology...........denial

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Babs ClarkAPR. 22, 2015 - 09:22AM JST what about the way the Japanese treated/mistreated thousands of Prisoners of WAR

Don't expect anyone to admit any of that. Angelina Jolie can't even get her film released here because it dares to acknowledge that atrocities took place in japanese POW camps. That doesn't fit in with the Abe narrative, so the film isn't permitted to be seen here.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1809398/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_ov_inf+

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Don't expect anyone to admit any of that. Angelina Jolie can't even get her film released here because it dares to acknowledge that atrocities took place in japanese POW camps.

I think the issue with the film was it depicts cannibalism - which is also well documented - and yet also denied by the rightists. (Railway Man on the other hand was shown in some cinemas, and is available on DVD) Back on topic, Abe is handing the media of ton of ammo to use during his visit to the US

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@marcelito: Write " Hey, we are genuinely sorry " in Japanese. to educate Japanese.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan should not have to apologize until the end of time for its past agressions. But by the same token it makes it hard for China and Korea to 'Forgive the children the sins of the father' when the very same children are bent on crafting a narrative that practically champions Japan's self-serving and often brutall actions in Asia as being something noble.

Every nation on earth has its own dark history...and owes someone somewhere an apology...but the degree to which that history is denied is how the prevailing ideologies within a given country should be measured. China and Japan both score rather badly in that department. But it would me a mistake to say they are alone.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There is zero harm in offering the apology. Do it until it's accepted, not when you think it's over. Abe is just playing into the hands of politics in China and the Koreas.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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