Why does japan deny the atrocities during ww2?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090505214805AArJyhK

Why does japan deny the atrocities during ww2?
is it for country image?
or is it for the good of avoiding any country dilemmas?
4 years ago Report Abuse

Vsevolod
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Actually, the official line is that the atrocities happened. The western media does often misreport the situation in Japan, but then again, there is actually a situation to report.

The history text book issue in reality is that one text book on a large approved list of textbooks plays down issues like Nanking. Schools are not obliged to use that book. The controversy is that it is possible to choose it. The apology issue is tied up with compensation matters, particularly in the case of Korea. That doesn't excuse the Japanese government (read further and you'll know what I think of them) but it's the result of lousy journalism if you think the Japanese haven't admitted atrocities.

The deeper issue is not reported much: up until the 1970s there was little denial at all of atrocities committed by the Japanese, and a lot was taught in schools. What has happened recently is that a new generation of right-wing (mainly Liberal Democratic Party) politicians too young to have fought in any war has sought to whitewash Japanese actions in World War II.

Now, it's certainly true that people are taught little these days in schools about the war, although they're NOT actually taught anything like a denial of atrocities. People I talk to are usually aware they don't know enough, and that bad things happened. Indeed, I would say that the Japanese are probably more aware of their country's atrocities than the average American is of US colonialism and intervention in Central and South America. That's partly because the Western media goes on about Japan's crimes more, and the Japanese media is more sensitive to foreign opinion.

Now, although the western media have jumped on their appearance and actions, these politicians have consistently struggled to come in from the margin, and hopefully after the absolutely disastrous premiership of their current "respectable" flagwaver PM Taro Aso (who came to power only because the LDP is so abysmally short of talent) they will become weaker again.

As a final point: before any westerners (especially Americans) whinge about postwar Japanese attempts to ignore atrocities, let's not forget that the whitewashing of Japan's record in WWII began with the release from prison and installation in power of convicted war criminals - by the US authorities, in a panic that the Japanese might vote in a left-wing government. The LDP started out corrupt and is now a quite rotten institution, but for 50 years the US needed it as a bulwark against Communist China, and certainly didn't need friction between Japan and the US's fanatical military ally of South Korea. Whining now about the people the West continually backed is a little rich.

In short, there isn't enough taught in schools, and the LDP is too riven between the corrupt, the nationalist, the weak and the about-to-defect to clear the issue up. But it's simply wrong to make a blanket statement that Japan denies atrocities.
Source(s):
Japan resident, university teacher, political science graduate.
"Japan: A reinterpretation" by Patrick Smith is an excellent book on Japan's political culture
4 years ago Report Abuse
7 people rated this as good
Asker's Rating:Asker's Comment:
makes sense

ALSO note to paul E...
if my memory is correct...
AMERICA killed 250,000 ppl with the A-bomb
GERMANY killed 12,000,000 during holocaust
JAPAN killed 35,000,000 during occupation
GUILTY? I DONT THINK SO... japan killed more than america and germany combined
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Other Answers (11)

rYokucHa
On the contrary to what you were taught in school or heard from others, Japanese government admits our wrongs deeds in war-times.

With regards to the Nanking "incident", ministry of foreign affairs have the following statement:
「日本政府としては、日本軍の南京入城（1937年）後、多くの非戦闘員の殺害や… 」
Here, Japanese government recognizes that many civilians were murdered and/or had their properties plundered after the fall of Nanking.

Moreover, in 1995 the Murayama cabinet annouced the following statement that is still carried over as an official statement of Japanese government:
「（抜粋）わが国は、遠くない過去の一時期、国策を誤り、戦争への道を歩んで国民…
it says that the wrong policies of our country in the near past has caused many people especially in Asia a great pain and damage.

Do you want to say something more??
Source(s):
http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/taisen/…
http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/taisen/…
4 years ago Report Abuse
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paul e
It's funny how all non japanese seem to have this same question.One question I asked when travelling in the USA was "why hasn't the USA apologised to Japan for the slaughter of innocents (school children ,the elderly and the infirm) when they dropped their atomic bombs" there was no notification .Have you wondered why there are so few original timber buildings still standing in Japan? The answer is that during WW2 the US air force fire bombed as many major centres as their bombers could reach because they hoped that no infrastructure, would force the government to surrender.Don't think about civilians (thousands), what a horrible way to die , burnt by incendiaries. They haven't dropped atomic bombs on Iran,Iraq,Vietnam or during the Korean war or any other country. GUILTY CONSCIENCE?
4 years ago Report Abuse
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bluemoon...
As wise rYokucHa already pointed it out that Japan did admit its mistake during WWⅡofficially and had granted huge compensation to the neighbor countries, it is historical fact. What do you want any further away?

Your question seems very biased and fruitless because you don't want to recognize any fact by brainwashing for pity sake.
4 years ago Report Abuse
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Shido
"Japan" doesn't "deny the atrocities during ww2."

"Japan" is a liberal democratic country where freedom is guaranteed for various competing (both liberal and conservative) ideas to thrive unlike your communist/military dictatorship where only one regime-approved "true" view of history is allowed.
4 years ago Report Abuse
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area52
List of war apology statements issued by Japan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war…

Minister of Foreign Affairs Etsusaburo Shiina (1965):
"In our two countries' long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly regrettable and we are deeply remorseful"

Prima Minister Kakuei Tanaka (1972):
"The Japanese side is keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war, and deeply reproaches itself. Further, the Japanese side reaffirms its position that it intends to realize the normalization of relations between the two countries from the stand of fully understanding 'the three principles for the restoration of relations' put forward by the Government of the People's Republic of China.

Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China (1972)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/c…

Emperor Shōwa (1984):
"It is indeed regrettable that there was an unfortunate past between us for a period in this century and I believe that it should not be repeated again"

Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone (1984):
"There was a period in this century when Japan brought to bear great sufferings upon your country and its people. I would like to state here that the government and people of Japan feel a deep regret for this error"

Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita (1989):
"As we have made clear previously at repeated opportunities, the Japanese government and the Japanese people are deeply conscious of the fact that the actions of our country in the past caused suffering and loss to many people in neighboring countries. Starting from our regret and resolve not to repeat such things a second time, we have followed a course as a "Peace Nation" since then. This awareness and regret should be emphasized especially in the relationship between our countries and the Korean peninsula, our nearest neighbors both geographically and historically. At this opportunity as we face a new situation in the Korean peninsula, again, to all peoples of the globe, concerning the relationship of the past, we want to express our deep regret and sorrow

Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Nakayama (1990)
"Japan is deeply sorry for the tragedy in which these (Korean) people were moved to Sakhalin not of their own free will but by the design of the Japanese government and had to remain there after the conclusion of the war"

Empero Shwa (1990):
Reflecting upon the suffering that your people underwent during this unfortunate period, which was brought about by our nation, I cannot but feel the deepest remorse"

Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu (1990)
"I would like to take the opportunity here to humbly reflect upon how the people of the Korean Peninsula went through unbearable pain and sorrow as a result of our country's actions during a certain period in the past and to express that we are sorry"

Prime Minister Kiichi Miyaza (1992)
"We the Japanese people, first and foremost, have to bear in our mind the fact that your people experienced unbearable suffering and sorrow during a certain period in the past because of our nation's act, and never forget the feeling of remorse. I, as a prime minister, would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology to the people of your nation"

Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato (1992)
"The Government again would like to express its sincere apology and remorse to all those who have suffered indescribable hardship as so-called 'wartime comfort women,' irrespective of their nationality or place of birth. With profound remorse and determination that such a mistake must never be repeated, Japan will maintain its stance as a pacifist nation and will endeavor to build up new future-oriented relations with the Republic of Korea and with other countries and regions in Asia. As I listen to many people, I feel truly grieved for this issue. By listening to the opinions of people from various directions, I would like to consider sincerely in what way we can express our feelings to those who suffered such hardship"

Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa (1993)
"After 48 years from then, our nation has become one of nations that enjoy prosperity and peace. We must not forget that it is founded on the ultimate sacrifices in the last war, and a product of the achievements of the people of the previous generations. We would like to take this opportunity to clearly express our remorse for the past and a new determination to the world. Firstly at this occasion, we would like to express our deep remorse and apology for the fact that invasion and colonial rule by our nation in the past brought to bear great sufferings and sorrow upon many people"
4 years ago Report Abuse
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t_8152
We say "we did" for what we did.
We say "we didn't" for what we did not.
Our opinions are divided over the matter whose truth is being uncertain.

We are a nation who argues history on facts, not on someone's convenience.
4 years ago Report Abuse
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Vinegar Taster

Sort of like the American government telling everyone bombing Nagasaki and Hiroshima was "necessary"...There are two sides to everything.
4 years ago Report Abuse
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Big Willy
What atrocities?
4 years ago Report Abuse
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Cameron
my guess is that its for both those reasons. why bring up a problem when you don't need to, right?
4 years ago






http://prince.org/msg/105/156469



Japanese Atrocities during World War 2
With all the talk of the Hiroshima anniversery and the painting of the japanese as victims of America I think the true horror of the Actions of the Japanese during the war is forgotten, so here is a list of atrocities commited by the Japanese against both Americans and others during the War. (I have nothing against the Japanese, part of my family is Japanese, but history should be put into perspective)

1. Nanking:

On December 13 1937 the Japanese conquered the Chinese city of Nanking, what followed was a series of systematic atrocities which are hard to match in the bloody annals of world history. Historians estimate that 20,000 (and sometimes up to 80,000) women from as young as seven to the elderly were raped. According to historians, rapes were often performed in public during the day, and often in front of spouses or family members. It is believed that rape was systematized in a process where soldiers would search door to door for young girls. It is said as well that many women were taken captive to be gang-raped, and some were kept to be raped again. It is believed that it was common for a woman to be killed immediately after being raped, usually by mutilation.

Immediately following the fall of the city, Japanese troops searched for former soldiers. During their search, they captured thousands of young men, most of whom were civilians. Many were taken to the Yangtze River, where they were machine-gunned so their bodies would be carried down to Shanghai. Others were used for live bayonet practice. It is believed that decapitation was a popular method of killing for the Japanese troops. Reports of soldiers being exhausted from decapitating prisoners were common. According to other reports, some Chinese were burned, nailed to trees, or hung by their tongues, and some women had their breasts cut off. Witnesses recall Japanese soldiers throwing babies into the air and catching them with their bayonets. Pregnant women were often the target of murder, as they would often be bayoneted in the belly.

2. Bataan.
In late 1941, Japan simultaneously invaded several southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. Most of the Filipino and United States forces defending the country were rapidly overrun or forced to retreat. A significant proportion of the Allied forces made a stand on the Bataan Peninsula.

Approximately 70,000 Filipino and US soldiers, commanded by Major General Edward P. King, Jr. formally surrendered to the Japanese, under General Masaharu Homma, on April 9, 1942, which forced Japan to accept emaciated captives outnumbering them. Due to a shortage of trucks, captives were forced to march, beginning the following day, about 100 kilometers north to Nueva Ecija to Camp O'Donnell, a prison camp.


Prisoners of war were beaten randomly and denied food and water for several days. Those who fell behind were executed through various means: shot, beheaded or bayonetted. The commonly-used Japanese "sun treatment" forced a captive to sit silently in the humid April sun without water or even the shade of his helmet.

Meanwhile, Allied forces elsewhere in the Philippines fought on, and the column of prisoners marching from Bataan was accidentally shelled by US guns defending Corregidor to screen the Japanese artillery movements. Packed into boxcars to travel from San Fernando to Capas, the number of prisoners was further diminished by malaria, heat, dehydration and dysentery.

These problems persisted at Camp O'Donnell. About ten thousand perished while others were able to escape; approximately 54,000 reached the camp. On June 6, 1942 the Filipino soldiers were granted amnesty and released, while the American prisoners were moved to another camp at Cabanatuan.

3. Thai-Burma Railway.

Also known as the Death Railway, it was a railway built from Thailand to Burma (now Myanmar) by the Japanese during World War II to complete the route from Bangkok to Rangoon and support the Japanese occupation of Burma. It was so called because of the human cost of its construction. About a hundred thousand conscripted Asian labourers and 16,000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) died on the project made up of 6,318 British, 2,815 Australians, 2,490 Dutch and the remainder from the USA or unknown. The living and working conditions on the railway were horrific. About 25% of the POW workers died because of overworking, malnutrition and diseases like cholera, malaria and dysentery. The death rate of the Asian workers was even higher, however the numbers for them are only estimates as the Japanese didn't count them.

4. Alexandra Hospital Massacre.

During the Battle of Singapore in 1942 on February 14, Japanese soldiers approached Alexandra Barracks Hospital. Although no resistance was offered, some of them shot or bayoneted staff members and patients. The following day, about 200 male staff members and patients, many of them unable to walk, were ordered to march about 400 meters. Some were carried and anyone who fell on the way was bayoneted. The men were crowded in a series of small, badly ventilated rooms and were imprisoned overnight, without water. The following morning they were systematically bayoneted.

In all, it is estimated that 15 million Civilians and POW's were massacred by the Japanese during the war, in what is now dubbed "the Asian Holocaust"
the hellfire of Hiroshima pales in comparison.
[Edited 8/10/05 6:50am]
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Reply #1 posted 08/10/05 6:37am
Mach
interesting read ( reminder of the already known )

thank you
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Reply #2 posted 08/10/05 6:41am
XxAxX

and to this day japan has not yet issued an apology sincerely to korea, china and the phillipines. in fact, until very recently japan wouldn't even admit to the atrocities it committed, despite documented evidence (witness testimony, films) proving said atrocities.

this is why, although i hate that we deliberately bombed hiroshima and nagasaki, i'm glad the japanese were stopped.
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Reply #3 posted 08/10/05 12:20pm
byronic

XxAxX said:
and to this day japan has not yet issued an apology sincerely to korea, china and the phillipines. in fact, until very recently japan wouldn't even admit to the atrocities it committed, despite documented evidence (witness testimony, films) proving said atrocities.

this is why, although i hate that we deliberately bombed hiroshima and nagasaki, i'm glad the japanese were stopped.

they have issued half-assed apologies to the American POW's, but then again they Depend on the US for a large part of their economy, so it's kinda in their own interests to be nice to us.
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Reply #4 posted 08/10/05 2:35pm
evenstar3

I knew about these things, and the cruelty of nations at war still never ceases to amaze me. I'm alive today because my great-grandmother managed to flee Burma during a Japanese invasion to come to the US.
HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS
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Reply #5 posted 08/10/05 3:45pm
artpal
My Filipino relatives talk about how the Japanese soldiers threw babies in the air and caught them with their bayonettes to kill them. One pregnant woman was slashed and her baby came out and died. Some soldiers trained dogs to rape the women.

Every time my family gets together for some kind of reunion, we hear stories about "the war."
[Edited 8/10/05 15:49pm]
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Read about my experiences working with Prince and Robin Power
http://www.prince.org/msg/5/143228
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Reply #6 posted 08/11/05 3:06am
Hyungbu

When the US dropped the A-bomb on Japan in 1945,
most Koreans thought two bombs weren't enough...

Korea has a long history of invasions from China,
Japan and even Russia. After the Russo-Japanese
War in 1904, Korea was occupied by the Japanese
and, in 1910, Japan annexed Korea.

For more than 40 years -- until the end of WW2,
Japan exploited Korea's ressources while engaging
in a 'cultural genocide': the Japanese language
was made mandatory in all schools, all public signs
had to be in Japanese, the teaching of Korean history
was banned and hundreds of thousands of labourers were
conscripted to assist the Japanese army both in
Korea and in China.

I'll spare you the massacres, forced prostitution, etc.


(As an aside: the fate of post-war Korea was decided by...
the USSR, the USA and Britain! Resulting in the current
partition. To this day, Japan has more military freedom
than South Korea...)


byronic said:
In all, it is estimated that 15 million Civilians and POW's were massacred by the Japanese during the war, in what is now dubbed "the Asian Holocaust"
the hellfire of Hiroshima pales in comparison.


However, IMHO, there shouldn't be -- there cannot be --
a "book-keeping of atrocities".


Peace