"The American POWs Still Waiting for an Apology From" Topic

… Japan 70 Years Later

"athy Holcomb put her hand on the wall of a crumbling factory building in the central Japanese city of Yokkaichi and envisioned her father touching the same spot during his years as a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II.

Like thousands of American POWs, her father was made to labor under slave-like conditions in Japan's war industry. Four of every 10 American prisoners died of starvation, illness or abuse.

Now, the survivors, their families and supporters are demanding an apology from the companies that operated those camps and profited from POW labor. Those include some of Japan's best-known corporate giants…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I suspect that will never happen, which is indeed a shame, given their horrible, and criminal treatment during the war.

A pity there were no trials over this, post-WWII.

The WWII era Japanese were nothing more than barbarians. Considering all the atrocities they committed before and during the war they got off very lucky.

Once they start apologizing the floodgates open. First the US, then PI, China, Korea, all of SE Asia and dozens of Pacific Islands, etc. Once you accept responsibility the lawyers are going to pile on looking for reparations for the families even if the victims are dead. Then there is a lot of explaining to do to their citizens.

The politicians that apologize will lose "face" and their careers ended.

Wolfhag

Glup…!

Amicalement
Armand

Not sure why one would want or expect the present day government or population of Japan to apologize for the actions of another government and population of 75 years ago.

Apologizing for past actions and behavior is a feel good, low cost and in general, no real meaning either by the speaker or the audience.

What is needed is an acknowledgement acceptance of wrong doing via internal history and open discussion between generations accepting guilt. Germany has mostly done this and Nazi/Hitler/WWII sits in a proper place inside their history. Japan, not so much. Perhaps when the last of the war generation and their children die off, a more honest discussion will take place in Japan.

And, lets be honest. Most countries have a past history of some sort that is not pleasant to dwell on and few ever admit to it. No one should be throwing stones while they live in glass houses.

Enlisted soldiers are not entitled to be free from manual labour as officers are under the Geneva Convention.

Still true today.

Japan (and the Soviet Union) never signed the Geneva Convention for POWs.

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I think "manual labor" is a bit of an understatement as regards the treatment of POWs by Japan.