I have really had it with these stories coming out from the West about how Japan has not apologized for its actions.
The New York Post released an article on this topic that is inaccurate in some critical parts. What’s worse is that it is written by Peter Brookes, a man who apparently is the former deputy assistant secretary of defense in the United States. A man who says that Japan has never really apologized…
What the hell is going on… Does no one do their research?
Well… That’s enough of that. Japan has apologized many times for the treatment of women during the days of World War 2. HERE for instance is one of those apologies from a Prime Minister of Japan:
The Year of 2001
Dear Madam,
On the occasion that the Asian Women’s Fund, in cooperation with the Government and the people of Japan, offers atonement from the Japanese people to the former wartime comfort women, I wish to express my feelings as well.
The issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women.
As Prime Minister of Japan, I thus extend anew my most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.
We must not evade the weight of the past, nor should we evade our responsibilities for the future.
I believe that our country, painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of apology and remorse, should face up squarely to its past history and accurately convey it to future generations.
Furthermore, Japan also should take an active part in dealing with violence and other forms of injustice to the honor and dignity of women.
Finally, I pray from the bottom of my heart that each of you will find peace for the rest of your lives.
Respectfully yours,
Junichiro Koizumi
Prime Minister of Japan
Well, kind of. Here’s the list of apologies. The closest to a satisfactory apology came from Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in 1998, but even that one was proceeded by “The Government of Japan, painfully aware of its moral responsibility concerning the issue of so called ‘wartime comfort women,’ has been sincerely addressing this issue in close cooperation with the Asian Women’s Fund which implements the projects to express the national atonement on this issue,” a statement many comfort women would strongly disagree with, especially since the process of getting even that much was like pulling teeth. I think Mr. Brookes meant that Japan has not issued a satisfactory apology, i.e., one made by the Prime Minister in the name of the government and approved by the Diet, but he should have been more careful in his wording.
Apologies are considered meaningless and insincere if they are not backed by strong action. Koizumi apologises personally and his successor as Prime Minister first denies sexual exploitation of comfort women then downplays the Imperial Government’s responsibility in those events.
The apologies keep coming partly because the LDP has no party discipline or official stance on these issues and because either the government or successors take actions that render their heartfelt apologies as insincere.
Yes I agree that this should be posted on a personal blog instead of a group blog discussing the good, the bad and the ugly of Japan.
EDIT:
Thanks Danny for the input. I’ve edited out the ‘Shame’ comment.
As for the news story you’ve posted, I find it difficult to talk about the issue without seeming like an apologist for the Japanese Imperial actions. Let me think about how to properly address that. One must be sensitive I think because Chinese have a right to be angry in my opinion anyways. But how much is enough and when do we acknowledge the effort and apologies put forth.
alex, there’s always something.
The tone was wrong.
The words were wrong.
The speaker paused in the wrong places.
The speaker was wearing the wrong tie.
People don’t want an apology from Japan, they want an excuse to keep feeling bitter.
Mark, I think this issue is on the minds of many people and I don’t think that a post such as this should be on a personal blog because it covers both the good and the bad side of Japan.
Its important to talk about this and when people publish major stories in venues such as the New York Post, I think it is absolutly fitting that group blogs post and correct those mistakes. If the article I posted was written too much from an opinion, well I think that’s fine too… I say that because Mr. Brookes can post his opinion in the NYPost then Japundit also seems a good place to voice one’s opinion.
Thats my two cents on it.
Thanks to everyone for their recent opinions about what is acceptable content on Japundit.
We will be sure to contact you the moment we decide to start choosing our subject matter based upon popular vote.
You don’t need to be sarcastic JP.
The apologies don’t work because successor governments or actions taken by the government often contradict the items addressed in those apologies
People don’t want an apology from Japan, they want an excuse to keep feeling bitter.
That kind of comment is not only designed to color the other side unfairly, but it also adds less than nothing to the argument.
another anti-Japan column
..And I’ve had it with people saying something’s “Anti-Japan”. Is being critical of something being anti- whatever that thing is? No, and when someone makes that comment, it makes it easy to see how poorly he or she can distinguish between the two.
We will be sure to contact you the moment we decide to start choosing our subject matter based upon popular vote.
I love the sarcasm here. I actually come here to be amused by the skewed, biased, and rash nature of the posts, though, so…
I think that Randy Marsh provided a perfect blueprint for Japan apologizing to Koreans…just follow his words and actions and change for the appropriate situation.
http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/player.jhtml?ml_video=83332&ml_collection=&ml_gateway=&ml_gateway_id=&ml_comedian=&ml_runtime=&ml_context=show&ml_origin_url=%2Fmotherload%2Findex.jhtml%3Fml_video%3D83332&ml_playlist=&lnk=&is_large=true
Now where’s a Korean leader when you need him
“That kind of comment is not only designed to color the other side unfairly, but it also adds less than nothing to the argument.”
Sorry, I find it difficult not to call a spade a spade. The only other option is that the cards in the pack are hearts - i.e. not thinking with their brains.
The same can be said by those who are exceptionally defensive against any criticism lodged against Japan.
“Sorry, I find it difficult not to call a spade a spade.”
Well, you could always call a spade a shovel and avoid the issue altogether.
That was good. I need to use that sometime on my blog.