S Korea, China warn Japan not to backtrack on wartime apology

Didn't Abe say last very recently he wouldn't? Must be a lot of dissent looming across the Sea of Japan.

China and South Muppet Korea should both just shut the hell up and worry about their problems, THEIR REAL PROBLEMS in their own countries and forget about getting the 'dream apology' that they so demand.

Stupid people live in the past and 70 years is long enough to be beating a dead horse. MOVE ON ALREADY, the rest of the world has and now China and South Korea just look like whiny little children throwing a tantrum. No one is listening anymore, we're all just laughing at your pathetic attempts. China and South Korea, you need to grow a pair and shut up, PLEASE!

Yo! Hypocrite Korea and China, how many apologies have you dished out for atrocities? Yeah, Japan was a real poophead, they did you wrong, and now you children keep arguing every freaking day.

You wanna make Japan look bad? Ignore them, focus on your country, and watch their debt spiral forever out of control.

Well, there are a few people here that missed the point completely! The point is, Japan continually tries to downplay and change the facts of the events of WW2. Yes, apologies have been made and compensation has been paid, but the right-wing government of Japan keeps trying to change the statements, facts and sentiments of previous apologies.

Pretty sure that Abe has already said that Japan won't backtrack on that apology. SK and China just whining like usual.

Well, there are a few people here that missed the point completely!

That's the problem with many Japanese people and revisionists - they appear to be listening but actually they aren't. And in view of all his downplaying and whitewashing, Abe would do well to issue a fresh apology.

Abe would do well to issue a fresh apology.

Why? Would you issue a fresh apology to someone who demanded one despite the fact that you've already apologised before? No, you move on and accept the apology which was already given. Something which SK and China are unable to do because they are constantly using Japan as a smokescreen to keep the citizens distracted from their eternal affairs.

I agree with KnowBetter, its been 70 years and no one in the world but china and S korea keep beating this dead horse. How about completely leaving any WW2 reference out?

KariHarukaJAN. 28, 2015 - 05:19PM JST Pretty sure that Abe has already said that Japan won't backtrack on that apology. SK and China just whining like usual.

It's not just China and SK that believe, despite what Abe says about backtracking, that he will - it's a pretty widespread opinion throughout the the world with international media and leaders warning Abe of the same thing. You should read more outside the mainstream Japanese media.

The government of China warning Japan? A few revisionists may have blagged a platform in the media, attention seeking. But the slaughtering leadership of China can goose-step until hell freezes over. Until these murderous manikins of posturing Peking accept the basic principles of international law, respect human rights of their own kith and kin, they are as toxic as the revisionists they purport to subjugate.

Would you issue a fresh apology to someone who demanded one despite the fact that you've already apologised before?

For the simple fact that so many denials have been made. Would you believe someone who says they're sorry, and next day one of their family members said, no we didn't really mean that? Is that so difficult to comprehend?

Demanding an apology every year is unfair. Why should you apologise for something your grand father did? BUT at the same time, why does Abe not stop the ministry for Education from scrapping out and censoring key atrocities committed by the Japanese during World War 2? Surely if you are sincere about apologies, you would want to take steps to ensure it never happens again... Like educating youth of the past.

Why does China and S.Korea keep on demanding an apology? This has stretched out forever and they're still whining like kids.

"Abe has said he intends to express remorse over the war in his statement and his cabinet upholds past apologies, including the landmark 1995 remarks by then-premier Tomiichi Murayama but suggested he was not going to stick with the original wording."

So, he's going to 'stick by the apology' but not the wording. Sorry, Abe, but it's this kind of BS attempt at wordplay that only flies at home and won't let you play both sides on the international stage ("we'll give money to anyone who fights IS" does NOT equal "humanitarian aid for innocents"!). Changing the wording of an apology so it is more sympathetic and more nationalistic is not 'sticking' by it. China and South Korea have every right to be suspicious and warn Japan, and the world has every right to be angry by what Abe is inevitably going to do. The denial is a shame on this nation, and a blight on humanity, and Japan should hold itself in higher regards.

...or they'll do WHAT ?

"South Korea and China warned Japan on Tuesday not to backtrack on its apology issued 20 years ago over its wartime past when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes a statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two."

They (South Korea and China) are right to warn Japan or rather Abe not to backtack on the past apology, judging by his past comments. And I totally agree with smithinjapan's comment above, especially when he says, "The denial is a shame on this nation, and a blight on humanity, and Japan should hold itself in higher regards."

Since the end of World War II, both China and the Koreas have been guilty of numerous unspeakable crimes against humanity, including genocide. That's undeniable and unforgivable BUT that has nothing to do with this issue.

As many as 20 million people died in Asia as a result of Japan's aggression. Some of the unimaginable apologists here like KnowBetter need to realise that it may not be so easy to just "move on". We all wish they could, like European countries did long ago with Germany. There's one key distinction as to why they can't. Japan as a society, unlike the Germans, has failed to show genuine contrition.

Sure, carefully worded apologies have been issued in the past but they have never left Japan's victims feel a sense of closure. When Chinese and Koreans see that Japanese history textbooks gloss over Japan's wartime atrocities how are they supposed to feel? The nationalist voice, which is in complete denial about the past, is loud and prominent and it manages to suppress opposition views on this effectively. Scarily they have Abe's ear which is hardly surprising considering his grandfather Kishi was a former PM accused of war crimes in China. Kishi was an ardent nationalist who wanted to make Japan a global power again after World War II. Abe is clearly trying to protect his honour and legacy.

The problem is simple: Japan has not shown sincere remorse. Japanese society, particularly those who lived through the war years, has never appeared to be filled with a sense of guilt and certainly has never sought forgiveness. 70 years on I agree it's definitely unfair for younger generations to bear any responsibility for the war years. Nevertheless, until Japan is seen to be contrite about its dark history relations in Asia will indefinitely remain cold.

A number of posters keep saying that it has been 70 years since the end of WW2 and that people should move on and not keep bringing this up.

Which sounds good, except that:

The revisionists in Japan keep disputing what happened in WW2. How can you move on if you dispute what happened? At least Germany has had the balls and the moral integrity to accept responsibility for what their leadership and their country did in WW2. The conservatives in Japan want to get cute with words and revise past apologies and wording around comfort women, etc. Again, how can anyone move on if Japan wants to refight old battles. The conservatives want to whitewash what is in the textbooks for children and institute patriotism classes to counter the "self-masochistic" thinking about Japan regarding WW2. Again, if one views holding Japan accountable for its actions in WW2 as "self-masochistic", how can anyone move in.

I have a novel idea. How about Japan stand up this year and say, unequivocally, the following: "Imperial Japan undertook many actions before and during WW2 that caused great damage to the peoples of Asia, including its own people. This included the invasion of/colonization of a great number of independent nations/state, and the committing of atrocities in a number of locations, to include the murder of civilians, crimes of all natures against many individuals, and human rights atrocities against civilians and POWs alike. While there may be legitimate disagreements as to the scope and details of the events, the underlying fact that they occurred is not in dispute. We can never atone for and apologise enough for the damage caused, nor can we begin to compensate those that suffered as a result. All we can do is to pledge to never again allow these types of actions to happen again under the flag of Japan. Going forward, we will ensure that this is the official position of the Government of Japan and reflected in any materials produced by/approved by the Government of Japan, to include materials used by public schools. To the Japanese people, we say this. Some of our ancestors committed heinous acts in the name of Japan. We can love them, we can honour them as individuals, but we cannot forget the harm and damage they caused. Most importantly, we cannot forget that they condemned many honourable and decent Japanese, both civilians and military, to death because of their actions."

Seems to me a statement like that, followed up with the requisite actions, would draw a line under this issue and then, and only then, could Japan have any hope of "moving on".

But no, Abe's government wants, for example, to try to get U.S. textbook publishers to change the text around "comfort women" because of the Asahi Shimbun issue. Really? Is that how you move on?

China and SK were responding earlier statement by Abe that he would change the wording on the Murayama and Kono statements.

Frankly speaking, I think China and SK should back off and let Japan change the wordings, take the statements back, or whatever the hell Japan wants to do. Japan really doesn't believe in those statements anyway, so they are in fact worthless statements. There's no point at getting upset over someone who takes back phoney contritions.

Why would the two nations(PRC and SK) care if Japan retracted the past words if they haven't accepted the words as apologies in the first place?

Quite pathetic in my opinion.

Stupid people live in the past and 70 years is long enough to be beating a dead horse.

Yeah, I know. I mean, the Jewish people commemorating the 70th year of the end of the war in Auschwitz with the rest of Europe's leaders should just be quiet. Not as if anything happened there or in East Asia.

Abe has already said he will not backtrack on the apologies, now he says he will not use the same wording, what is he going to say next?

The year has just started and we already have 2 pre-statement-statements by Abe. Probably we're going to hear another 23 before his actual statement.

What looks like a communicational disaster actually is an odd but somehow honest display of Abes real feelings. That is he feels absolutely no remorse about the Japanese war time history, and would like to make this clear to his followers, but knows well that he has to show the world (he doesn't care at all about China or South Korea) a different face.

As other posters above have reasoned convincingly the problem here is not China and South Korea warning, but Japan not being credible.

If Japan had a credible stance in regard to its own history of racist violence towards other countries no one would care what China and South Korea say.

"The Japanese government must remember “the historic significance of every single passage” used in past apologies by former premiers, Noh told a news briefing."

The South Korean and Chinese governments need to remember the historic significance of every single passage of their respective Treaties with Japan signed back in 1965 and 1972.

The rest of he world welcomes Japan's recent moves under PM Abe. Only these two keep harping on 70 year old history in blatant violation of their respective treaties,

How about Japan stand up this year and say, unequivocally, the following: "Imperial Japan undertook many actions before and during WW2 that caused great damage to the peoples of Asia, including its own people. This included the invasion of/colonization of a great number of independent nations/state, and the committing of atrocities in a number of locations, to include the murder of civilians, crimes of all natures against many individuals, and human rights atrocities against civilians and POWs alike. While there may be legitimate disagreements as to the scope and details of the events, the underlying fact that they occurred is not in dispute. We can never atone for and apologise enough for the damage caused, nor can we begin to compensate those that suffered as a result. All we can do is to pledge to never again allow these types of actions to happen again under the flag of Japan. Going forward, we will ensure that this is the official position of the Government of Japan and reflected in any materials produced by/approved by the Government of Japan, to include materials used by public schools. To the Japanese people, we say this. Some of our ancestors committed heinous acts in the name of Japan. We can love them, we can honour them as individuals, but we cannot forget the harm and damage they caused. Most importantly, we cannot forget that they condemned many honourable and decent Japanese, both civilians and military, to death because of their actions."

Can someone please mail this to Abe? It should be used verbatim.

Poor China and South Korea. their leader can't reign their own nation without flaming people's "anti-Japanese" feelings. The only thing Japan can do is just leave them alone. Japan is no longer looking at them. Japan already did what she have to do.

S Korea, China warn Japan not to backtrack on wartime apology

These two clowns are really too funny, they just can't make up their minds.

They say Japan hasn't ever apologized, then they say Japan hasn't apologized enough, then they say Japan ever hasn't apologized, then Japan shouldn't back track on it's apologies, then, and then, and then, and then, and then..........

Like kids these two seem as if they can't make up their minds.....Either Japan has never apologized or Japan shouldn't back track on all the apologies and money it has given.......

If you were to believe all the hype from the Leftist and the Communist propagandist you would think that Japan eats babies and lives in a hell. But the truth is further from the fiction these two clowns claim is a fact.

The truth is that this has nothing to do with what happened or what didn't happen. Hell, even Mao told the Japanese that they had nothing to apologies when they tried to apologize for!

What this all really boils down to is money and territory.

Korea wants three things from Japan. First they want Japan to pay more compensation because the first huge compensation that Japan agreed to and paid (1965 treaty) the first Park passed it to his friends.

Then in 2007 when the Korean people discovered that all those year the Korean government had been telling giant porkies (such as Japan never paid compensation) the people started to sue the Korean government. Now, the Korean government is again trying to tell some more porkies and trying to get Japan to pay even more compensation.

Next, the Islands of Takashima, you know, the Islands the first Park invaded. Well, Takashima has become more of a symbol than a truth. Korea doesn't want to take the issue because it knows it would lose so it joins forces with Communist China to seer Japan in their propaganda campaign. But, Korea will find itself in a very tight spot when Communist China's elites abandon it in favor of Japan due to the ability of Japan to provide their wealthy elites with more wealth than South Korea can.

And lastly Korea needs to some how show the world that they a powerhouse when the North and South are (s pin it Bob. Play some Peaches and Herb! "Reunited and it feels so good!")

But, this is just a giant pipe dream dreamt up by Kim Il-sung and Ten Point Program for Reunification of the Country. Better known as "the biggest carrot trap in the history of mankind" The last few Presidents of South Korea has fallen for this, but the reality is a more nefarious one than meets the eye.....

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/dprk-perspectives-korean-reunification-after-the-july-4th-joint-communiqu%C3%A9

The only way the North will allow a reunification is if President Park is will to be strapped to the main gun of their Pokpung-ho tank and paraded throughout Seoul.

Next, Communist China (Emperor Xi) wanted Japan to buckle under their might and leave the US alliance and give into all demands his Communist Imperialist state demands. But, when the fact that Japan would not kowtow before Xi, he gave up his plans for now and started to play nice........

For now.......

But, when dealing with little bullies expect him and his tributaries to return.......

Communist China didn't wasn't even a state during WWII, Communist China would never of been without Japan before and after the war. If it wasn't for Japan's aide (ODA's) to China, Communist China would still be living in the 19th century.

But, reality doesn't sell books or keep you in power when you are an oppressive state!.

Learn from the German ! Repent your crimes !

...or they'll do WHAT ?

...or they can't bully Japan!

As long as Japan is apologizing, they can bully Japan!

Yup, Japanese have not shown sincer remorse. ( Banz 10 closing statements) About 90% of every babyboomer I have know has said very negative things about Korea and China. And never any expression of regret on the part of Japan.

@JoeBigs

Communist China didn't wasn't even a state during WWII, Communist China would never of been without Japan before and after the war. If it wasn't for Japan's aide (ODA's) to China, Communist China would still be living in the 19th century.

What a bizarre point. China's post war politics and economy have nothing to do with Japan failing to show any genuine contrition for the deaths of over 10 million Chinese. That's the heart and soul of this issue. Abe sympathizes with far-right nationalists who demand that past apologies be retracted, history be rewritten through their jaunted eyes to restore Imperial Japan's former glory and that patriotism of its citizens be compulsory. Of course China and Korea are treating Abe with suspicion, so should the whole world.

Yup, Japanese have not shown sincer remorse. ( Banz 10 closing statements) About 90% of every babyboomer I have know has said very negative things about Korea and China. And never any expression of regret on the part of Japan

Why should they? They weren't involved in the war. That's like me apologising for what the British Empire did.

Stupid people live in the past and 70 years is long enough to be beating a dead horse. MOVE ON ALREADY, the rest of the world has...

Knowbetter -- exactly. How come Japan cannot let this all go?

The rest of he world welcomes Japan's recent moves under PM Abe. Only these two keep harping on 70 year old history in blatant violation of their respective treaties,

Wrong -- the U.S. House passed a resolution admonishing Japan for its attempts to back-track on the "comfort women" isue.

We all wish they could, like European countries did long ago with Germany. There's one key distinction as to why they can't. Japan as a society, unlike the Germans, has failed to show genuine contrition.

At least Germany has had the balls and the moral integrity to accept responsibility for what their leadership and their country did in WW2.

I love Germany argument. Germany is in Europe and fought war there, Japan is in Asia and fought a war there. Did you know that Western Germany had come to terms with Poland with after war borders in the late 60's? Did you know that all their maps showed the old Third Reich borders with adnotation 'temporarily admistred by Poland'? Did you know that that Japanese never made a problem because of that reason? Did you know that Germans actively exterminated millions of Europeans (Jews, Slavs, Gypsies) based on some 'super race' rationals? Did you know that Japan never did that and never even planned anything close to the biggest planned and brutal atrocity in the history of mankind? Did you know that they created a thing called Agency 114 which purpose was to blame Poles instead of Germans for the Holocaust and the use of the term 'Polish concentration camp'? Did you know that people doing that were ex-Nazis responisble for the Holocaust? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agency_114)

I bet you didn't. So stop writing about Germany and Japan like they did the same crimes. Germans murdered millions of innocent people in Europe, a thing which Japan never did in Asia. And that's a very good reason to apologise to them. Not only because they started the most cruel war in history.

This is a perfect gauge to short on investments on China & Korea. The more they complain, the more trouble their economy is in.

So stop writing about Germany and Japan like they did the same crimes.

No one has claimed they did the same crimes. But the fact is, they both committed atrocities in their regions. These atrocities required contrition by each country to its victims. Germany has successfully done so, Japan hasn't. Your comparison (the atrocities committed) is irrelevant. The relevant comparison is their response after the war.

Germans murdered millions of innocent people in Europe, a thing which Japan never did in Asia.

Say what? You may need to do a little more research there mate.

ShanchanJAN. 28, 2015 - 11:44PM JST Did you know that Japan never did that and never even planned anything close to the biggest planned and brutal atrocity in the history of mankind?

Unit 731.

StrangerlandJAN. 28, 2015 - 11:52PM JST Say what? You may need to do a little more research there mate.

Why would he? He seems to be a Japanophile.

Germany has successfully done so, Japan hasn't. Your comparison (the atrocities committed) is irrelevant. The relevant comparison is their response after the war.

I already pointed out how Germany tried and still stries to whitewash history actively after the war. Type 'polish death camps' if don't know that works pretty well the same with usage of 'Nazi' instead of 'German'. And yes - write a list of countries which haven't come in terms with Japan after the war. Because yes, even PRC did that in early 70's and South Korea in 60's. Just like Fermany did in Europe.

Say what? You may need to do a little more research there mate.

You mean Japan had ever planned in a cold manner and executed the idea of mass murders of other nations? Say what? You must have some incredible piece of documents in your hands which no historian ever came by so far!

OK, OK, the Japanese did wrong things pre and during The 1920, 1930 and WWII. That is 70 years ago, how long are these two Countries going to keep YAPPING about this wrong the Japanese have admited too. We all k ow these two Countries made many bad mistakes in their own History. IT IS TIME TO FORGET AND MOVE ON!

Will it play down the history of aggression and continue to carry that negative asset? Or will it show profound and sincere remorse over its history of invasions and travel lightly forward?

That kind of depends on China being willing to remove that negative asset from Japan at a reasonable cost (i.e. with an apology only).

Shanchan JAN. 28, 2015 - 11:44PM JST

Germans murdered millions of innocent people in Europe, a thing which Japan never did in Asia.

While it is true that Japan didn't do anything comparable to the Holocaust your statement above, shanchan, is simply wrong.

Japan did murder millions of innocent people in Asia.

It is estimated that more then 20,000,000 Civilian deaths as a result of Japans aggression out of bounds. The rage of violence and the absolute indifference in regard to civilian deaths that Japan displayed in the pacific war is unprecedented.

The way you try to downplay and whitewash Japanese atrocities, shanchan, gives reason to concern.

Unrepentant types in Japan have been waiting 20 years for a prime minister to say something contrary to what the socialist PM Murayama said in August 1995. If anybody needs to get over it and let bygones be bygones, it is most definitely Japanese people like Abe--who I'm sure bit his lip two decades ago as a young Diet member and vowed to one day undo what he and others like him saw as the "damage" inflicted by Murayama. Let it be noted that Murayama (in office from 1994-96) is the ONLY socialist to have served as Japanese PM since 1948. All things considered, maybe a few more socialist prime ministers beyond just him would have been good for the country overall.

It may be a good idea at this point for Chinese and South Koreans to just write off Abe and interpret his actions in this crucial year of 2015 as part of his whole weird "maternal grandfather complex" i.e. his obsession with Kishi Nobusuke, supporter of Japanese imperialism and prisoner of American occupation authorities (though never charged with a crime) from 1945 to 1948. Japan's democracy is far from perfect, and the political class is littered with mediocre, sclerotic second- and third-generation hereditary figures like Abe who care more about upholding their family legacies than anything else.

Doesn't China and Korea understand that Comfort Woman is just a polite way to say prostitutes?

After Japan lost the war, there were plenty of comfort women here too.

No more apologies.

Let's move on.

@Shanchan

Germans murdered millions of innocent people in Europe, a thing which Japan never did in Asia. And that's a very good reason to apologise to them

Wow! You really don't get it, do you? Imperial Japan may not have had Auschwitz type concentration camps but just like the Germans their aggression was indisputably based on racial loathing. As has already been pointed out, millions of innocent people lost their lives in Asia all because of Japanese ambitions for power and glory. That is entirely analogous.

@canadianbento

That is 70 years ago, how long are these two Countries going to keep YAPPING about this wrong the Japanese have admited too.

If 20 million Canadians were killed I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be calling it "yapping".

Doesn't China and Korea understand that Comfort Woman is just a polite way to say prostitutes?

No, it is a polite way to say "sex slaves".

Acknowledging past wrongs and making amends is a clear sign of a civilized mind. Seventy years of contrition is unique in the history of the world. Many could learn much from Japan's example.

How would China and South Korea have it? Demanding again and again the same admissions seems to lack some element of forgiveness. How much will be spent for no reason except to taunt Japan's crimes of seventy years ago? How long will teaching hatred for Japan redress the expansion of 1931 - 1945 and to what end? Mutual destruction?

@kcjapan

Seventy years of contrition is unique in the history of the world.

Excuse me? Japan has not shown any sincere contrition. That is the problem. Expressions of regret have been carefully qualified and society as a whole has failed to properly show genuine remorse for Japan's wrongdoings.

Demanding again and again the same admissions seems to lack some element of forgiveness.

You're assuming Japan has sought forgiveness.

"Japan has not shown any sincere contrition. - You're assuming Japan has sought forgiveness." - comments

How would China and South Korea have it? Please suggest appropriate contrition and proper form to seek forgiveness? Some may have very specific insights to improve these relations. What might they be?

Well, I just learned something interesting on a Korean web forum. Those Korean peeps were talking about how Japan is an evil revisionist who whitewashes their history, downplays their WW2 action, never apologizies, compensates, whatnot whatnot...

Then, they were shocked to see this report made by Stanford University:

Divided Memories: History Textbooks and the War in Asia by Daniel C. Sneider

In Japan, most of the textbooks are factual and not overly nationalistic

One misleading perception of Japan in the West, China and Korea is that Japan's most nationalistic textbooks are in widespread use, he said. But it's not true, according to Sneider. Heavy media coverage of a few provocative Japanese textbooks somewhat distorts reality.

This extensive, ongoing research has been conducted since 2006 to present and it concludes that Japanese history textbook maintain more balanced view and is the least nationalistic material compared to China and Korea.

http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2014/pr-memory-war-asia-040414.html

http://fsi.stanford.edu/publications/divided_memories_and_reconciliation_a_progress_report

Those posters who constantly bash Japan calling "revisionists," "nationalists," "whitewashers" or whatever, please do not forget to yell the same at China and Korea.

@ kcjapan

Please suggest appropriate contrition and proper form to seek forgiveness?

Perhaps instead of expressing "regret", "sorrow" and "remorse" Japan could start by saying that they're "truly sorry" and "genuinely contrite". I think the victims of Japan's aggression deserve at least that, don't you? Of course forgiveness may never be given by some (and that's their prerogative) but at least Japan will have been seen to have sought atonement. It's a shame that after 70 years there hasn't been reconciliation between former foes and Japan has to take responsibility for that.

Demanding an apology every year is unfair. Why should you apologise for something your grand father did?

For the simple fact that most Japanese have no idea what their grandfathers did. That is the whole point. The knowledge of what went on before isn't even there. In its place is a kind of alternative reality that Japanese believe in: that Japan was the victim of WW2 due to the atom bombs, and Pearl Harbour, the Nanking massacre and the sex slaves are all lies and fabrications.

This extensive, ongoing research has been conducted since 2006 to present and it concludes that Japanese history textbook maintain more balanced view and is the least nationalistic material compared to China and Korea.

Oh really? http://www.iwanami.co.jp/jpworld/text/textbook01.html http://japanfocus.org/-Matthew-Penney/4055 You were saying?

Christopher Glen: In its place is a kind of alternative reality that Japanese believe in: that Japan was the victim of WW2 due to the atom bombs, and Pearl Harbour, the Nanking massacre and the sex slaves are all lies and fabrications.

1937 Imperial Japanese Army tourist photo:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nanking_bodies_1937.jpg

@Christopher Glen

Please read the provided link throughly before jumping into your narrow-minded conclusion. I understand you hate Japan and it's all okay I got ya but please chill out and learn to examine the material throughly with your own eyes.

One misleading perception of Japan in the West, China and Korea is that Japan's most nationalistic textbooks are in widespread use, he said. But it's not true, according to Sneider. Heavy media coverage of a few provocative Japanese textbooks somewhat distorts reality. Those textbooks – produced by one Japanese publisher – are used in less than 1 percent of Japanese classrooms

You were saying?

No, Daniel C. Sneider of Stanford University was. If you don't read source, don't bother to comment. We all know what your opinions are since you keep posting the same things over and over and if there's nothing new to add, please don't bother.

No one summaraizes the problem better than Professor Sarah Soh.

"The Comfort Women: Sexual Violence and Postcolonial Memory in Korea and Japan" by Chunghee Sarah Soh,

C. Sarah Soh is an ethnic Korean, a professor of anthropology at San Francisco State University and the author of Women in Korean Politics.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Comfort-Women-Postcolonial-Sexuality/dp/0226767779/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QEJ4QETGC15VJ4T29N6#reader_0226767779

page xvii

Despite its important contribution to the international recognition of wartime sexual violence as a war crime, the Korean redress movement has employed "approximate truths" or strategic exaggerations that have effectively impeded deeper understanding of the comfort women issue and real progress toward its resolution.

"Approximate truth" is something that is not entirely true, and "stratigic exaggeration" is a creative way to say the L-word. She fully states why the issues are impossible to solve in just one sentense.

The problem with western media is that they report "approximate truth and strategic exaggeration" as THE truth and call anyone who points out exaggeration a "revisionist." They should read the book by Prof. Soh. And do not miss the heart breaking endnote that begin with page 349 about how she started the study of comfort women, and how it ended. It is also an account how she got involved in the "approximate truth" ring and how she got out.

Christopher GlenJan. 29, 2015 - 02:19PM JST

It is a sad thing that you still believe in "approximate truth and strategic exaggeration".

It is a sad thing that you still believe in "approximate truth and strategic exaggeration".

It's a sad thing you believe the twisted version of the revisionists

I understand you hate Japan and it's all okay

I understand you jump to conclusions, but that's your call

If you don't read source, don't bother to comment. We all know what your opinions are since you keep posting the same things over and over and if there's nothing new to add, please don't bother.

Speak for yourself. Hopefully Abe will be sensible on August 15th

Sorry folks. The endnote by Prof. Soh starts at page 241 rather than page 349.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Comfort-Women-Postcolonial-Sexuality/dp/0226767779/ref=pdsimb1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QEJ4QETGC15VJ4T29N6#reader0226767779

It is a very good read.

So is this http://www.amazon.co.jp/Comfort-Women-Japanese-Military-Perspectives/dp/0231120338/ref=sr_1_1?s=english-books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422528247&sr=1-1&keywords=ww2+sex+slaves

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Comfort-Women-Slaves-Imperial-Japanese/dp/1863737278/ref=sr_1_2?s=english-books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422528247&sr=1-2&keywords=ww2+sex+slaves Or this. So it seems it's in Japan's best interests to stick to the WW2 apology or even better, make a renewed one

CH3CHO JAN. 29, 2015 - 05:12PM JST

Have you actually read the book of C. Sarah Soh, CH3CHO?

While she disputes the narrative of the Korean Council she clearly states:

"There can be no denial of the tragic victimization of forcibly recruited women who suffered slavery-like conditions."

Soh is definitely not acquitting Japan, but her focus is to indict patriarchy and excessive nationalism in the Korean society.

I don't believe Soh is fully aware of the recent surge of nationalistic whitewashing attempts in Japan and I'm sure she wouldn't want her view to be instrumentalized by Japanese apologists, who are always desperately looking for any form of exonerating evidence.

The following article provides a balanced review of Soh's publication:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2009/05/10/books/book-reviews/continuing-controversy-of-comfort-women/#.VMoZKGRwsXU

While Soh's contribution to the debate clarifies some important points it does by no means exonerate the Japanese military's responsibility.

Your agenda here, as shown in many posts, CH3CHO, has not been to give a balanced view on Japanese wartime history, but to lighten Japans guilty conscience at the charge of the victims, who you've basically accused of entirely falsifying testimonies.

NYtoday JAN. 29, 2015 - 11:49AM JST

Those posters who constantly bash Japan calling "revisionists," "nationalists," "whitewashers" or whatever, please do not forget to yell the same at China and Korea.

Oh yeah, lets all engage in a bashing spree... well, NYtoday, I believe your suggestions will be very welcome by nationalists on both sides of the isle. Nationalist rely on each other for their respective narrative and they love bashing. This is true for Chine, Korean and for Japanese.

Please note that criticism here against recent nationalistic tendencies in Japan is by no means anti-Japanese sentiment. It is a different way to care for Japan then you do.

The discourse you are engaging in just feeds nationalist sentiment on all sides and this leads nowhere, except maybe to more conflict.

bam_booJan. 29, 2015 - 09:56PM JST

Soh is definitely not acquitting Japan,

I know.

she wouldn't want her view to be instrumentalized by Japanese apologists, who are always desperately looking for any form of exonerating evidence.

Your agenda here, as shown in many posts, CH3CHO, has not been to give a balanced view on Japanese wartime history, but to lighten Japans guilty conscience at the charge of the victims, who you've basically accused of entirely falsifying testimonies.

You know what? What you are doing is called strawman argument. I repeatedly stated that YOU CANNOT RE-WRITE HISTORY, one way or the other. I am not interested in "lighten Japanese guilty conscience" or whatever you want readers here to falsely believe I am saying. So, just stop that little trick you are using.

Does that bother you to point out the fact that Koreans are re-writing the history as prof. Soh has found?

"It's a shame that after 70 years there hasn't been reconciliation between former foes and Japan has to take responsibility for that." - comments

Hang on, Japan as nation, as a people and in sprit have contributed so much, for seventy years, to so many, how can they be treated as louts who ignore responsibility.

Seventy years is a very long time to tell one's children to hate Japan.

The shame of that injustice lies with those who teach hatred for Japan not those who are since all long dead fifty years ago.

Moving forward as a people, as a nation, as a region of the world cannot be promoted with fissures left in the psyche and taught to the next generation. Let Asia thrive in peace, or is that too much to ask? Love to Japan, her people and all the peoples of Asia, we have so much to give one another, let's try, is that too hard for such great people?

how can they be treated as louts who ignore responsibility.

Because they don't teach what really happened to their kids.

Seventy years is a very long time to tell one's children to hate Japan.

It's also a long time to live in denial. I think that's really the reason other Asian countries don't trust Japan

The shame of that injustice lies with those who teach hatred for Japan not those who are since all long dead fifty years ago.

The shame of the injustice lies with those who teach that Japan was the innocent victim of WW2. That is what is preventing this issue being put to bed. Germany has long since put its WW2 ghosts to bed, yet Japan hasn't. Why is that I wonder?

Pretty sure that Abe has already said that Japan won't backtrack on that apology. SK and China just whining like usual.

@KariHaruka - But what about this? Any comments or can Japan do no wrong because it's the country that gave the world Pokemon?

http://www.smh.com.au/world/shinzo-abe-disputes-us-textbooks-portrayal-of-comfort-women-20150129-131s76.html

"the injustice lies with those who teach that Japan was the innocent victim of WW2." - comments

Japan was the innocent victim of WW2? Really? Who is pushing this interpretation of history?

@Christopher Glen

Because they don't teach what really happened to their kids.

Again, you are repeating same lies over and over disregarding the facts. Unless your research on Japanese textbooks is more reliable than the one by Stanford University. Denying the reality makes you a "denier," eh?

"Divided Memories: History Textbooks and the War in Asia by Daniel C. Sneider

In Japan, most of the textbooks are factual and not overly nationalistic

One misleading perception of Japan in the West, China and Korea is that Japan's most nationalistic textbooks are in widespread use, he said. But it's not true, according to Sneider. Heavy media coverage of a few provocative Japanese textbooks somewhat distorts reality. . http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2014/pr-memory-war-asia-040414.html http://fsi.stanford.edu/publications/divided_memories_and_reconciliation_a_progress_report "

@kcjapan

Japan was the innocent victim of WW2? Really? Who is pushing this interpretation of history?

Please stay tuned. Mr. Christoher Glen will be right back with the source to back up his statement.

"South Korea and China warned Japan on Tuesday not to backtrack on its apology issued 20 years ago over its wartime past "

So these two countries are admitting that Japan already apologized 20 years ago???? I thought Japan never apologized and even if the had it wasn't sincere. What's wrong with backtracking on something that wasn't sincere?

Again, you are repeating same lies over and over disregarding the facts. Unless your research on Japanese textbooks is more reliable than the one by Stanford University. Denying the reality makes you a "denier," eh?

The BBC says otherwise, and that's good enough for me http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21226068

@Christpher Glen

Your "article" only suggests the writer Oi Mariko's personal experience and opinion and containts NO data or whatsoever. And what she writes in her column does not go against Sneider's research:

In Japan, most of the textbooks are factual and not overly nationalistic (his research shows 1% isn't=Mariko's case)

One misleading perception of Japan in the West, China and Korea is that Japan's most nationalistic textbooks are in widespread use, he said. But it's not true, according to Sneider. Heavy media coverage of a few provocative Japanese textbooks somewhat distorts reality. (Newsflash—it is about you and BBC. Perfect example of Western media recycling secondhand opinion of whoever without conducting their own research)

Just like other Korea-Japan issues, you only take testimonies and secondhand opinions of others to backup your theory. If we are just gossiping about our co-worker's affair or something lame like that, sure, fine, heresays and wishfulthinking might be enough to convince others. But we are not.

But it's not true, according to Sneider

Sneider can believe what Sneider wants.

Just like other Korea-Japan issues, you only take testimonies and secondhand opinions of others to backup your theory

Nope, I take from the considerable pool of mainstream material out there. You are free to believe Japanese material from 1931-45. Many people at the time did, the difference is most knew better after 1945. I don't see how anything about "co-workers" is relevant to this topic. Fingers crossed Abe does nothing stupid on August 15th. Might be wishful thinking though