politics

Abe going to Pearl Harbor for remembrance, not for apology: gov't

41 Comments
By KEN MORITSUGU

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41 Comments
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Like I said before, he should just arrive unannounced. Leave a wreath saying "tora tora tora".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Over 3 years after the sneak attack and 36 million lives later did Japan surrender its conquest rightfully so. Never forget the past but learn from it.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

LRRP_Ranger DEC. 06, 2016 - 04:51PM JST Never forget the past but learn from it.

It's easy for you to say. Problem is that they haven't learned from it. Why does war keep repeating in a different form?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I'm not sure he needs to apologize, but he DOES need to recognize that it was not an act of "self-defense" in attacking Pearl Harbor, and that ultimately it was that attack that led to the devastation in Japan.

12 ( +17 / -5 )

Abe should go to Nanking first and apologize. He doesn't need to follow Obama's visit to Hiroshima. Japanese leaders need to think independently and show leadership that they continue to lack.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Great gesture by Abe after Obama's historic visit to Hiroshima last year. I really hope this can become a tradition between new leaders of the two countries in a massive and permanent show of friendship and reconciliation

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I wonder which of the war dead Abe is going to show his respects to. The ones in Yasukuni?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Over 3 years after the sneak attack

it was not a sneak attack. US not telling its people that they did receive the message from Japan belatedly is the evidence they needed to appeal its people so that they could go to war..

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Three and a half years later, the war came to an end after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and on Nagasaki three days later. Japan surrendered on Aug 15.

Really? The US dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Wow, thank you for reminding me, again, and again, and again, after and including any article about WWII and Japan.

it was not a sneak attack. US not telling its people that they did receive the message from Japan belatedly is the evidence they needed to appeal its people so that they could go to war..

You need to learn about history, a surprise attack, is the same as a sneak attack, also there was no official declaration of war sent by Japan to the US prior to the attack either, so it was a "sneak" attack.

Like it or not, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor without any official warning, or declaration..

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Good gesture by Abe.

I didn't expect an apology, just as I didn't expect an apology from Obama for Hiroshima (not that I ever think an apology for a necessary course of action during war is needed). That isn't the intent of Abe's visit and no one should be raising an issue about this.

Like I said, darned if he does, darned if he doesn't. Expect controversy and lots of protesters at Pearl Harbor when Abe visits, attacking him unnecessarily for his presence. Abe may be the first Japanese political leader to visit Pearl Harbor, but he is hardly the first Japanese citizen to visit and honor the war dead there.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Like it or not, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor without any official warning, or declaration..

Wrong. Roosevelt had already read Japans declaration of war through a decoded telegram. He chose not to warn Pearl Harbor.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Over 3 years after the sneak attack and 36 million lives later

I believe many of those deaths occurred before Pearl Harbor. Perhaps a pedantic point, but for many, the war had started long before.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wrong. Roosevelt had already read Japans declaration of war through a decoded telegram. He chose not to warn Pearl Harbor.

Well, he got a memo that said "In anticipation of open conflict with this country, Japan is vigorously utilizing every available agency to secure military, naval and commercial information, paying particular attention to the West Coast, the Panama Canal and the Territory of Hawaii."

It wasn't a declaration of war, nor did it specifically mention Pearl Harbor.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Like it or not, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor without any official warning, or declaration..

US explanation to Japan was that the massage from Japan belatedly arrived. So why does US give a different explantion to its people as surprise attack or sneak attack and not telling the fact they in fact received the message belatedly?

It is obvious they needed to make Japan looked as evil as possible as Chinese and Koreans do about Japan.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Wrong. Roosevelt had already read Japans declaration of war through a decoded telegram. He chose not to warn Pearl Harbor.

It's a fringe theory at best.....

US explanation to Japan was that the massage from Japan belatedly arrived. So why does US give a different explantion to its people as surprise attack or sneak attack and not telling the fact they in fact received the message belatedly

Apologetic...FACT...Japan carried out and launched a SNEAK attack against the United States of America at Pearl Harbor.

Japan attacked the US. Of that there is NO argument, nor should there be, whether you choose to believe fringe conspiracy theories as your justification for the sneak attack, that is your choice. The rest of the intelligent world knows differently

Both of you should read and learn....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_advance-knowledge_conspiracy_theory

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Well, he got a memo that said "In anticipation of open conflict with this country, Japan is vigorously utilizing every available agency to secure military, naval and commercial information, paying particular attention to the West Coast, the Panama Canal and the Territory of Hawaii."

Further evidence Japanese communication was as bad back then as it is now.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Yubaru, wikipedia is not a place you learn history. Read the memoirs of Roosebelt or Herbert Clark Hoover.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

tinawatanabe: "It is obvious they needed to make Japan looked as evil as possible as Chinese and Koreans do about Japan."

I think that just about sums up how badly you undermine your own comments, tina. Not only do you blame the US for Pearl Harbor and in the past have said Japan is the victim, you also show your utter contempt and hatred for Chinese and Korean (same as your ancestors that colonized them, then led Japan on its path to destruction). You also believe that sexual slavery and the Nanjing massacre are just propaganda, do you not, tina?

"Yubaru, wikipedia is not a place you learn history."

It certainly beats white-washed Japanese textbooks approved by Abe with all of Japan's atrocities excluded and you told Japan did nothing wrong. Read REAL history, tina. It was a sneak attack. Just because you don't like that fact doesn't make it any less fact. Same as sex slaves. Same as Nanjing. Hopefully Abe apologized (a sincere one) to the people of Nanjing when visiting there, and gives a real one to the former sex slaves to go with the compensation they recently promised.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Abe should go to Nanking first and apologize. He doesn't need to follow Obama's visit to Hiroshima. Japanese leaders need to think independently and show leadership that they continue to lack.

Well at least going to Pearl Harbor is a start but people are going to find a reason to complain no matter what type of good gesture is given. Also if Abe goes to Nanking then he should go to every single Asian country or Pacific Island because the Nanking people weren't the only victims.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

, wikipedia is not a place you learn history. Read the memoirs of Roosebelt or Herbert Clark Hoover.

Ahhh..so you admit that hindsight is 20/20.....pray tell how can ANYONE read the memoirs of a President who died while still in office? Roosevelt's "memoirs" were written by a third party.....and in this case Wiki is accurate.

You choose to keep your head buried in the sand.

Japan led a sneak attack against the USA, there is no historical evidence otherwise. It's all semantics

5 ( +6 / -1 )

A logical flaw I've always questioned regarding the argument that the US knew Japan was going to attack Hawaii: Okay, if so, what? The US was at war with no country at the time and was under negotiations with Japan. What should it have done - implore Japan not to attack during negotiations? Launch a preemptive attack? Even assuming the US had complete info regarding Yamato's plans (highly unlikely, but let's go with it), what could they have done? Tina Watanabe, any suggestions?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"In anticipation of open conflict with this country, Japan is vigorously utilizing every available agency to secure military, naval and commercial information, paying particular attention to the West Coast, the Panama Canal and the Territory of Hawaii."

Strangerland, thank you for bringing an actual fact to the table. Well done.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Did Trump ever apologized for his words and acts? He said that he would if he is wrong but he was never wrong(?). Of course, Trump would not apologize for dropping the two bombs ending the war by the great America. Did Abe get the nod from Trump to do so for the no apology visit to Pearl Harbor in the "private meeting in Trump's Tower" ? So, now we have two "No wrong's" but we had a WWII. Hmmm....

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Yubaru... impeccable response! Your comments here are very informative. Atleast you backed up your comments with some evidence...much appreciated! There are others here who bark a lot without providing any links or references trying to claim this and that.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Don't come if he can't apologize! What is his memory going to be proud of how the Japanese performed there attract. How disgusting for him to come and stand on the deck of the USS ARIZONA with all those US Navy sailors died below in that ship without a apology. PROTEST THAT TYPE OF VISIT !

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Why would Mr. Abe need to apologize? It was the US that forced Japan into defending herself with proactive, preemptive self-defense, everybody knows that. Everybody in Japan, at least.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Answer me this: what good did Obama's Hiroshima visit do? Don't pick at a scab, it will start bleeding all over again.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I have to agree with Smith.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

for remembrance, not for apology

If only they didn't have selective memory to remember things.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

A non-apology and a meeting with a lame duck. Hardly significant.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Answer me this: what good did Obama's Hiroshima visit do?

If anyone has the temerity to even ask this question it's rather obvious that they haven't paid attention to the news too much when he did visit and afterwards.

His visit brought a lot of goodwill feelings to the people of Japan.

Obama showed the good side of what America should be about.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Abe going to Pearl Harbor for remembrance, not for apology: gov't

Actually the word being used most in the Japanese press is "wakai," which usually translates as "reconciliation."

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yubaru

It was one of tactics, preemptive attack. Not sneaky defined as stealthy, coward, furtive, considering the fact Japan’s planned 30min in advance declaration fell behind due to the technical errors at Japanese embassy. Nothing as intentional as USSR ‘s fell behind intentionally as much as 4 hours

Besides, in the world with no minimum required lead time specified, if it was even a minute before, it makes the attack legitimate but if falling behind just a minute, does it make Big Surprise Coward Attack? The treaty didn’t specify what sort of advance notice to be required ahead of hostile action. You might call it surprise if you are lower-ranked soldiers or civilians but It could never be real surprise attack for FDR and his cronies. No matter how much those conspiracy theorists got refuted you believe, War Department secret circulations clearly recognized and stated Surprise aggressive action at any moment is possible and it is desired that Japan commit the first overt act if hostilities cannot be avoided, hence, urging preparedness for such surprise attacks. They just did not know, then maybe, exactly when and exactly where and no such rule requiring to specify where to attack, existed.

US was also good at (sneak) attacks in her undeclared wars those days too, I presume you know.

http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/undeclared-war-in-the-atlantic-the-u-s-navy-versus-the-u-boats/

http://historyarticles.com/undeclared-war/

Also I am interested in asking how come you repeat Abe should’ve visited before Obama. How does their turns matter?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

How does their turns matter?

And just which side instigated the war? Which side finished what the other started? Japan bears a larger historical "blame" for WWII.

Part of the problem that continues to this day here in parts of Asia is directly related to Japan not accepting said blame and continually attempting to white wash it and "change" history.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Actually the word being used most in the Japanese press is "wakai," which usually translates as "reconciliation."

In this particular quote Suga said the visit is for "irei." I like the translation of "remembrance" of the war dead better than the direct translation of "consoling their souls."

Elsewhere Abe and Suga have said the visit will show the value of "wakai" or reconciliation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

YubaruDEC. 07, 2016 - 01:57PM JST And just which side instigated the war? Which side finished what the other started? Japan bears a larger historical "blame" for WWII.

I know you don't know. Historically, who was really an aggressor? If you look at the history, In a hostile way, British, French, and U.S. were trying to colonize and control much of Asia.These countries become their problem. This became a problem in Asia. if you look at the famine in India in the late 1800's, who casued the 20 million death in famine? British?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Yubaru

Unlike Nanking, both Hiroshima/Nagasaki and Pearl H were very real, let aside questions which and why and how in mourning war dead, if both leaders are serious and sincere, such adherence seems meaningless.

And just which side instigated the war? Which side finished what the other started? Japan bears a larger historical "blame" for WWII.

Answering to this, IJA started this war instigated/provoked/conored by USA. I am with conspirathy theorists.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Unlike Nanking, both Hiroshima/Nagasaki and Pearl H were very real, let aside questions which and why and how in mourning war dead, if both leaders are serious and sincere, such adherence seems meaningless.

RIght, and Japan never colonized Korea, invaded China, over-ran Singapore, attempted to subjugate all of east Asia under it's rule, and in the process murder millions upon millions of people either.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

RIght, and Japan never colonized Korea, invaded China, over-ran Singapore, attempted to subjugate all of east Asia under it's rule, and in the process murder millions upon millions of people either.

not sure we can go that far but...

Right, Japan annexed Korea. and Western Great Powers invaded, colonized, subjugated all over Asia except Thai and Japan. under their rule and in the process, mudered millions upon millions of people.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack by the Imperial Japanese Task Force, U.S. President Barack Obama published a statement on Thursday, in which he said the Japan-U.S. alliance would prove that even the most antagonistic countries of yesteryear could become the most intimate allies of today.

There's some misuse of words in Obama's statement, though. He should have said: The Japan-U.S. alliance proves one of the two most antagonistic countries of yesteryear could become the most faithful vassal of the other.

Washington's Japan hands, please address this disgusting situation. For starters, correct Okinawa's current state of affairs vis-a-vis U.S.A. which can be definitely called occupation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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