"Rewriting the War, Japanese Right Attacks a Newspaper" Topic

"Takashi Uemura was 33 when he wrote the article that would make his career. Then an investigative reporter for The Asahi Shimbun, Japan's second-largest newspaper, he examined whether the Imperial Army had forced women to work in military brothels during World War II. His report, under the headline "Remembering Still Brings Tears," was one of the first to tell the story of a former "comfort woman" from Korea.

Fast-forward a quarter century, and that article has made Mr. Uemura, now 56 and retired from journalism, a target of Japan's political right. Tabloids brand him a traitor for disseminating "Korean lies" that they say were part of a smear campaign aimed at settling old scores with Japan. Threats of violence, Mr. Uemura says, have cost him one university teaching job and could soon rob him of a second. Ultranationalists have even gone after his children, posting Internet messages urging people to drive his teenage daughter to suicide.

The threats are part of a broad, vitriolic assault by the right-wing news media and politicians here on The Asahi, which has long been the newspaper that Japanese conservatives love to hate. The battle is also the most recent salvo in a long-raging dispute over Japan's culpability for its wartime behavior that has flared under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's right-leaning government…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

I'd almost suggest crossposting this to the ACW discussion board, since the Civil War is also a target of historic revisionism by those who regret the Southern defeat…

The Japanese seemingly have never come to full grips with the whole 'WWII' thing. This is just another salvo in that long running soap opera. The bottomline is that the Chinese know, the Koreans know, the Filipinos know and my uncle (and many others like him) knew (Note: he was a survivor of the Bataan Death March).

And true enough, Rebelyell. We have our 'Lost Cause' apologists galore….

The amazing bit to me is many Japanese are genuinely puzzled at the anger generated in China, Korea, the Phillipines and other Southeast Asian states when Japan indulges in deliberate amnesia instead of a straightforward acknowledgement of facts that are not vaguely in dispute.

They are not puzzled, they just don't particularly care what the rest of Asia thinks.

I worked with them closely on multiple occasions over the decades, traveling frequently to Nagoya, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Additionally I lived in Korea nearly 2 years.

The Japanese (and Chinese ) are easily the most xenophobic cultures I have ever seen. The Chinese and Japanese particularly about each other.

Who would have thought the Germans would handle the post-war guilt so much better than the Japanese?

I would suggest it's the difference between the Western and Eastern mindsets, as in China and Japan are both cultures that are built on the concept of face being important, and will people will go to great lengths to avoid losing face. Admitting to WW2 would be one of those face losing things that can't be admitted to, because there is only one way to expurgate face – ritual self harm.

As noted here, the Japanese just don't seem to get the West and take any responsiblity … as noted, the Germans have … But the Germans are Westerners … and some of the differences between East vs. West are again made clear … Only time and a lot of it may help ?

I think China and Korea need to get past it. After all, Japan certainly got what was coming to them in the biggest of ways.

On the other hand, I totally understand Japan's Right attempting to rewrite history (see Rebelyell's post above). Recall also John Cleese's taunting of Otto about the Viet Nam war in a "Fish Called Wanda."

Also, what is with Japan's obsession with the Yamato? I guess it is emblematic of the good ol' days.

In fact the Germans have Mia culpaed into a bunch of over corrected political puff balls.
Facts are facts and we all are in agreement, but to be held for their sins of our forefathers whoever they be is folly.
I say don't forget don't re do the past faults but let it be and build on it.
Perhaps it would be more helpful to say we know you did this but we know you as a people cannot and will not do it again so let's do something altogether positive now.
Picking scabs never does anything but keep the scab on show.

Cheers, not forgetting but moving on.

Sadly Zargon without an "official" Japanese government acknowledgement and apology for its war time atrocities it will be nigh on impossible for other Asian states to move forward. Am I at falut for the transgressions of my Southern forebears towards the descendants of African slaves? No, but I can acknowledge that what my forebears did was wrong. Should I rail against the British for forcing my Scotch-Irish ancestors from their homes and the persecution they endured by the Anglican Church in the 18th Century? Nope, the folks that did those things are long dead and past caring. But Britain does not engage in denial of the history either so I think I can live my life and enjoy having many a British friend today.

The point is that owning up to history is part of the way that cultures can begin to work together. Failing to do otherwise provides the grist for nationalist and war mongering.

Kallman nailed it. The thing that has bothered so many people was the fact that Japan has never admitted or accepted the fact that they acted wrongly during the war.

I have an interest in this. My father left Shanghai about the time the Japanese started using it for target practice.

Wait I cant be mad at the Spanish for making my ancestors move to New Amsterdam in the 1630s due to the war? Death to all Spanish ;).

Well said Kallman!

I'm glad you find interesting my friend.

Amicalement
Armand

What Kallman said. Very well explained!

Wait until they see "Unbroken" … TMP link

I'm ready to rethink the strategic political "pivot to the Pacific" and let the Chinese run roughshod over Japan. That'll give the Japanese a chance to rethink their actions in WW2.

Economically that could be a bad move … just say'n …