70th And Not Sorry

From the Stars and Stripes:

"Japanese leader Abe stops short of apology for World War II"

 

"Prime Minister Shinzo Abe acknowledged Friday that Japan inflicted "immeasurable damage and suffering" on innocent people in World War II, but stopped short of offering his own apology and said future generations of Japanese should not have to make them either. In a widely anticipated statement marking the 70th anniversary of his country's surrender, he said instead that Japan's repeated past "heartfelt apologies" would remain unshakeable in the future. "On the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, I bow my head deeply before the souls of all those who perished both at home and abroad," Abe said in a 25-minute address delivered live on national television. "I express my feelings of profound grief and my eternal, sincere condolences." The statement was closely watched by Japan's neighbors, especially South Korea and China, and it was unclear whether it would satisfy them. China's official Xinhua News Agency called Japan's statement a diluted apology at best, and "a crippled start to build trust among its neighbors." Resentment over invasion, occupation and atrocities by the Japanese Imperial Army before and during the war still bedevils relations between Japan and the East Asian countries seven decades after Tokyo's surrender on Aug. 15, 1945. Abe noted that more than 80 percent of the country's population was born after the war, and echoed growing though not universal sentiment in Japan that the country has apologized enough. "We must not let our children, grandchildren and even further generations to come, who have nothing to do with that war, be predestined to apologize," he said. But he said Japan took the wrong course in going to war and that, across generations, Japanese must squarely face their country's past.

 

^ His statements sound more like a preacher of good rather than remorse. It sounds like he is extremely proud of what the Japanese did. Of course he doesn't say that out-right, but you can get the overall tone. He believes Japan has done more than enough to make up for starting World War 2 and for all the horrible crimes it committed across Asia. Their victims are from every Asian country as well as the US, the UK, Holland and France. The Japanese got away with not being forced to openly admit their mistakes and crimes because the Allies were more concerned with using their bases to fight the Communist Koreans and Chinese during the Korean War. It is almost the same principle that was used in West Germany. The Allies were more concerned with stopping the Soviet threat rather than make the Nazis pay for their crimes. Eventually the Germans themselves fully stepped-up  and admitted their own guilt - as a people - and that took several decades to do. It seems the Japanese aren't willing to do the same 7 decades later. I guess they hope to simply forget the crimes that their grandparents committed. The biggest thing for a Japanese person is honor and I do not see any honor in not openly admitting your mistakes and working to make sure they are not repeated. The only thing I see is shame by trying to hide from their dark past. ^

http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/japanese-leader-abe-stops-short-of-apology-for-world-war-ii-1.362824