parksecurity
Jun 23 2004, 05:04 PM
I've heard a lot of people say that modern Japan cannot be held responsible for its war crimes before and during WWII...
But one thing I've consistently found to be true is that Western attitudes towards the Holocaust committed by Germany in Europe, and attitude towards Japan's wartime atrocities have been markedly different...
Did you know that even the US has a Holocaust Memorial Museum for the 6 millions Jews that were systematically murdered during WWII? The purpose of such museums is to educate the populace about the Holocaust and keep the memory of the Holocaust alive so that something like that could never happen again... That is also why the infamous Auschwitz death camp is being preserved as a "warning" to future generations... And in Germany, schoolchildren are taught extensively about Germany's wrongdoing during WWII and the terrible Holocaust...
Also, Anne Frank's Diary has become a symbol of the Holocaust, it uses a single human face to represent the tremendous suffering of the 11 million killed in the Holocaust...
the Europeans have a great understanding of how important it is to remember the Holocaust even fifty years later... For them, the Holocaust is a lesson that is to be kept as a "warning" to future generations...
However, there is a very different picture in Japanese society
"Since the war, younger generations [in Japan] have grown up in the belief that Japan was simply a victim of Allied agression that culminated in the bombing of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, bringing the brave Japanese to their knees."
Unlike Germany and Europe, Japan seems to have cast its own wartime crimes as unimportant and focus on its own victimization...
I thought these articles show how seriously Europe takes the memory of the Holocaust... and I wish Japan could only do the same with its own past...
Auschwitz to Undergo Preservation WorkQUOTE
The conservation work, expected to start in the next few weeks, is being undertaken because "the ruins will disappear if nothing happens," said Jarek Mensfelt, spokesman for the Auschwitz memorial museum.
"This is an attempt to keep it as it is now — in ruins — but not to let the ruins go," Mensfelt said. "It was meant to be here forever as a warning."
More than a million people, most of them Jewish, perished in gas chambers or died of starvation and disease at the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex between 1940 and 1945.
Swiss Court Allows Gypsies to Sue IBMQUOTE
GENEVA - A Swiss court has cleared the way for Gypsies to sue IBM over published allegations that the computer company's punch-card machines helped the Nazis commit mass murder more efficiently, the plaintiffs' lawyer said Tuesday.
...
"IBM's complicity through material or intellectual assistance to the criminal acts of the Nazis during World War II via its Geneva office cannot be ruled out," said the appeals court ruling. It cited "a significant body of evidence indicating that the Geneva office could have been aware that it was assisting these acts."
Ninety-Year-Old Keeps Memory of Auschwitz AliveQUOTE
And that is what he has vowed to tell German schoolchildren. "For as long as God gives me the strength, I'll go on," he said.
For 25 years, Deutsch has spent several hours a week in packed classrooms telling students how the Nazis murdered his family, how he survived Auschwitz and how he came to terms with it.
...
"As a German I felt a certain resentment from other Europeans," said Deutsch, who worries that pushing guilt on post-war German generations could backfire.
A December 2003 survey showed that almost 70 percent of Germans feel annoyed at being held responsible for the killing of six million Jews in the Holocaust.
"I believe the people who say they didn't know what happened," said Deutsch. "Until 1943 I was living in Berlin myself and did not believe that Germans could do that."
Anne Frank: The Face of the HolocaustQUOTE
She died at age 15 in a concentration camp, but her diary survived to tell the story that has shaped the world's image of the Holocaust. On June 12 Anne Frank would have turned 75.
If her father had not published her diary after World War II, Anne Frank would have simply been one among six million Jews killed by the Nazis. But the publication of the now famous Diary of Anne Frank lifted the young girl from the anonymous mass of victims and turned her into the face of the Holocaust.
First published in 1947, the book has sold more than 25 million copies and has been translated into more than 50 languages. In 1959 her story was turned into a three-time Oscar winning film.
Anne's account of the war years is now the subject of a Japanese animation film as well as several plays and her diary is required reading in schools around the world. The hiding place of the Frank family, the present-day Anne Frank Huis in Amsterdam, is also the most-visited Holocaust museum worldwide. Last year the museum registered a new visitor record with over 900,000 people.
To coincide with Anne's 75th birthday on June 12, the Anne Frank Center in Germany has released hitherto unpublished photographs from the Frank family album shot by Anne's father Otto Frank.
Colordevil
Jun 23 2004, 06:37 PM
Um, accuse Japan by joinign and worsen the war, indeed, but not started the war, no, cuz the Germans did, well, Hitler did.and mussolinli(spelling)
Eclectic Asian
Jun 23 2004, 08:32 PM
yes, Germany started World War II but it was the Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the U.S. into this war. And because Germany and Japan were allies at this time, Hitler had to declare war on the U.S. I believe that if Japan never attacked Pearl Harbor and U.S. stayed neutral during the whole conflict, then Germany's chances of winning would have increased. You see, France was already fallen by then and Britain was being constantly bombed by the German Luftwaffen. With Western Europe under control, Hitler would concentrate more of his troops on the eastern front and would have more man power to take Stalingrad, Leningrad, Moscow, etc. eventually destroying Russian morale if not defeating them instantly.....
Siu Wai
Jun 23 2004, 10:09 PM
If you get over into your textbooks, ladies and gentlemen... WWII actually started back when Japan invaded Manchuria back in 1937... They dropped out of the League of Nations...
If you're talking about the planning, well... I guess Germany went first... WWII in Europe didn't go off until 1939...
Rad Raz
Jun 23 2004, 10:33 PM
QUOTE (Siu Wai @ Jun 23 2004, 11:09 PM)
If you get over into your textbooks, ladies and gentlemen... WWII actually started back when Japan invaded Manchuria back in 1937... They dropped out of the League of Nations...
The history book which "I" have tells that WWII officially started when Germany and Soviet Union sandwiched Poland.
mr.x3
Jun 23 2004, 10:48 PM
QUOTE (parksecurity @ Jun 23 2004, 06:04 PM)
I've heard a lot of people say that modern Japan cannot be held responsible for its war crimes before and during WWII...
However, there is a very different picture in Japanese society
"Since the war, younger generations [in Japan] have grown up in the belief that Japan was simply a victim of Allied agression that culminated in the bombing of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, bringing the brave Japanese to their knees."
Unlike Germany and Europe, Japan seems to have cast its own wartime crimes as unimportant and focus on its own victimization...
I thought these articles show how seriously Europe takes the memory of the Holocaust... and I wish Japan could only do the same with its own past...
Auschwitz to Undergo Preservation WorkQUOTE
The conservation work, expected to start in the next few weeks, is being undertaken because "the ruins will disappear if nothing happens," said Jarek Mensfelt, spokesman for the Auschwitz memorial museum.
"This is an attempt to keep it as it is now — in ruins — but not to let the ruins go," Mensfelt said. "It was meant to be here forever as a warning."
More than a million people, most of them Jewish, perished in gas chambers or died of starvation and disease at the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex between 1940 and 1945.
Swiss Court Allows Gypsies to Sue IBMQUOTE
GENEVA - A Swiss court has cleared the way for Gypsies to sue IBM over published allegations that the computer company's punch-card machines helped the Nazis commit mass murder more efficiently, the plaintiffs' lawyer said Tuesday.
...
"IBM's complicity through material or intellectual assistance to the criminal acts of the Nazis during World War II via its Geneva office cannot be ruled out," said the appeals court ruling. It cited "a significant body of evidence indicating that the Geneva office could have been aware that it was assisting these acts."
Ninety-Year-Old Keeps Memory of Auschwitz AliveQUOTE
And that is what he has vowed to tell German schoolchildren. "For as long as God gives me the strength, I'll go on," he said.
For 25 years, Deutsch has spent several hours a week in packed classrooms telling students how the Nazis murdered his family, how he survived Auschwitz and how he came to terms with it.
...
"As a German I felt a certain resentment from other Europeans," said Deutsch, who worries that pushing guilt on post-war German generations could backfire.
A December 2003 survey showed that almost 70 percent of Germans feel annoyed at being held responsible for the killing of six million Jews in the Holocaust.
"I believe the people who say they didn't know what happened," said Deutsch. "Until 1943 I was living in Berlin myself and did not believe that Germans could do that."
Anne Frank: The Face of the HolocaustQUOTE
She died at age 15 in a concentration camp, but her diary survived to tell the story that has shaped the world's image of the Holocaust. On June 12 Anne Frank would have turned 75.
If her father had not published her diary after World War II, Anne Frank would have simply been one among six million Jews killed by the Nazis. But the publication of the now famous Diary of Anne Frank lifted the young girl from the anonymous mass of victims and turned her into the face of the Holocaust.
First published in 1947, the book has sold more than 25 million copies and has been translated into more than 50 languages. In 1959 her story was turned into a three-time Oscar winning film.
Anne's account of the war years is now the subject of a Japanese animation film as well as several plays and her diary is required reading in schools around the world. The hiding place of the Frank family, the present-day Anne Frank Huis in Amsterdam, is also the most-visited Holocaust museum worldwide. Last year the museum registered a new visitor record with over 900,000 people.
To coincide with Anne's 75th birthday on June 12, the Anne Frank Center in Germany has released hitherto unpublished photographs from the Frank family album shot by Anne's father Otto Frank.
The U.S nuked the Japanese in WW II to save more lives and to prevent the U.S from invadeing Japan.
Why do people say that Japan cant be held responible for their OWN crimes that THEY COMMITED in ww2 are they that proud as to claim that they are the victims. Noofense but the Japanese have to much pride in them, so they will never immit to those things, just tellin it like it is.
Colordevil
Jun 23 2004, 10:57 PM
QUOTE (Rad Raz @ Jun 23 2004, 11:33 PM)
QUOTE (Siu Wai @ Jun 23 2004, 11:09 PM)
If you get over into your textbooks, ladies and gentlemen... WWII actually started back when Japan invaded Manchuria back in 1937... They dropped out of the League of Nations...
The history book which "I" have tells that WWII officially started when Germany and Soviet Union sandwiched Poland.
i heard both of them, but i would go with germany
AtlantisStar
Jun 23 2004, 11:04 PM
QUOTE (Rad Raz @ Jun 23 2004, 11:33 PM)
QUOTE (Siu Wai @ Jun 23 2004, 11:09 PM)
If you get over into your textbooks, ladies and gentlemen... WWII actually started back when Japan invaded Manchuria back in 1937... They dropped out of the League of Nations...
The history book which "I" have tells that WWII officially started when Germany and Soviet Union sandwiched Poland.
WWII in the European Theatre started on September 1rst when Germany and USSR invaded Poland for Living Space. At least that is the Allied accepted date.
Some accepts when Hitler took the Rhineland from the French.
Siu Wai
Jun 23 2004, 11:09 PM
QUOTE (Rad Raz @ Jun 23 2004, 11:33 PM)
QUOTE (Siu Wai @ Jun 23 2004, 11:09 PM)
If you get over into your textbooks, ladies and gentlemen... WWII actually started back when Japan invaded Manchuria back in 1937... They dropped out of the League of Nations...
The history book which "I" have tells that WWII officially started when Germany and Soviet Union sandwiched Poland.
My mistake it wasn't 1937...
In fact that true year was
1931In the 1930s, the Japanese were determined to extend their empire. They ruled in Korea, but they also controlled the Manchuria railway. In September of 1931, they claimed that Chinese soldiers had sabotaged the railway, and attacked the Chinese army. The Chinese army did not fight back because it knew that the Japanese were looking for an excuse to invade Manchuria. By February of 1932, the Japanese had conquered the whole of Manchuria, and set up a Japanese-controlled state called Manchukuo ruan by the former Emperor of China.
Because thousands of chinese soldiers and civilians had been killed by the modernized Japanese army, China appealed to the League of Nations which sent a delegation to investigate the matter. By September of 1932, reports from the delegation to Manchuria stated that the Japanese were in the wrong, and it recommended that Manchuria be returned to China. When fourty nations voted that Japan should deserve the blame for this invident, during a Special Assembly of the Leage (Feb 1933), Japan walked out of the League and continued to invade China while the League could do nothing about it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion of Poland? Wasn't that September 1939?
Colordevil
Jun 23 2004, 11:10 PM
^ But overall, the war still started by the Germans, right?
Siu Wai
Jun 23 2004, 11:11 PM
QUOTE (Colordevil @ Jun 24 2004, 12:10 AM)
^ But overall, the war still started by the Germans, right?
In Europe, yes...
In Asia, no...
Eclectic Asian
Jun 24 2004, 11:11 AM
^ yeah i agree, but what i don't understand is why Germany and Japan had allied. I mean i understand why Germany allied with Italy because Germany's Nazism was based on the facism in Italy and Hitler admired Mussolini's character and ideals. I am guessing Germany allied with Japan because it was strategic and also because "
the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Well what i am trying to ask is, what would happen if the Axis won the war? Would the Nazi Germans and Imperialist Japanese fight each other in the end?
ok peace
tongbao_vince
Jun 24 2004, 11:16 AM
The new Germany gov't following the Nazis went backrupt paying reparations and compensation to millions of war victims/Jews.
The same Japanese gov't didn't have to pay a dime because the Americans needed the turn Japan into their puppet in Asia. Instead of not being held fully responsible for their atrocities, they were given aid money and tried to erase their history.
fk650
Jun 24 2004, 12:35 PM
Jewish community groups are essential in keeping the Holocaust memory alive and constantly drumming it into our heads on the history channel, so we can remember how much they suffered and why it is right for them to ethnically cleanse and torture the Palestinians today.
Eclectic Asian
Jun 24 2004, 06:26 PM
QUOTE (fk650 @ Jun 24 2004, 01:35 PM)
Jewish community groups are essential in keeping the Holocaust memory alive and constantly drumming it into our heads on the history channel, so we can remember how much they suffered and why it is right for them to ethnically cleanse and torture the Palestinians today.
well if i interpreted your statements correctly, you are saying that the Jews should eradicate the Palestinians just because of the Holocaust? Mind you that the
German Nazi's implemented the Final Solution and were responsible for the deaths of about 6 million Jews (where did the Palestinians come from?

). Muslims did serve in the ranks of the Wehrmacht (German Army) since the Nazis and Muslims both oppose the Jews. However, to be even more specific, only the Waffen SS committed the war atrocities against mankind. The other branches (Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine,etc.) just commited acts of aggression and disruption of peace.
Hmm, ok....time to go back to topic!
Let's see, yes...i agree with vince's statement that the Americans essentially made Japan into a puppet state by reforming their constitution and outlawing war (as to now there is no army but a "defense force")
BUT of course it is natural for any conquering nation to occupy the conquered country to see to its reformation and regrowth. It was actually good that the Americans occupied Japan shortly after WW2 because Russia agreed to help the Americans in the East after defeating Germany in the West. Now what is more preferable, a nation (Japan) being developed by a democratic, capitalistic nation or a communist nation such as Russia?
barkerintokyo
Jun 25 2004, 07:25 AM
These are quotes from Michael Moore's novel "Downsize This!"
"6 million Jews murdered
3 million Catholic Poles murdered
500,000 Gypsies murdered
12,500 homosexuals murdered
Those, plus the Communists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other undesirables, bring us to a grand total of nearly 10 million defenseless humans slaughtered in the Holocaust. This figure does not include the 400,000 Americans who died in the war, the 25 million Soviet citizens killed or starved to death, plus the millions of other Europeans, Africans, and Asians who died at the hands of what was considered to be the most intelligent, most civilized, most advanced society on earth."
"The war may seem like a long time ago, and the work of only a few evil Nazis, but, according to Daniel Goldhagen, the author of Hitler's Willing Executioners, the German government has catalogued more than 330,000 average, everyday Germans who physically participated in the daily slaughter of the Jews. Thousands of those Germans are still alive today. In fact, there are over 12 million Germans still kicking around who were fifteen years or older during WWII."
" And what have these Germans done to make some kind of reparation for their sins?
'We don't call it reparation,' said the woman on the phone at the German Information Center. 'It's restitution.'
Okay, so how much 'restitution' has Germany decided each life they exterminated is worth? Well, according to them, nothing. They won't make any 'restitution' for the dead, it was explained to me. But here's the good news. They will make up for any property loss the Jews suffered. So if you lost a few candlesticks in the Holocaust, step right up for your deutsche marks. Lost your life? Too bad. No geld for your loved ones. But...if you can prove that you spent 'at least six months in a concentration camp,' were 'confined in a ghetto,' or were 'forced into hiding for a minimum of eighteen months,' then you can collect about $350 to $600 a month from the generous Germans. You say you were only tortured in Dachau for five months and twenty-nine days? Too bad! Sue the Germans and you might get a one-time settlement of $3000.
To date, Germany has doled out $68.3 billion in 'restitution' payments. If we break that down for everyone they killed in the Holocaust, how much is it for each of the 10 million they butchered?
The answer: $6,831
That's it - $6,831 per mother, father, infant, girl, and boy they gassed, burned, shot, or buried alive. Not a bad price to pay, if it means you can end up one day as the wealthiest nation on earth.
As far as I'm concerned, $6,831 per innocent life is not enough. Not that any amount would be 'enough,' but my life and your life are worth a little more than $6,831."
The Japanese responsible for the Second Nanking Incident numbers 1600. The number dead is far less than 10 million. If Japan needs to do something to repay the Chinese and the Koreans, so do the Germans.
tongbao_vince
Jun 25 2004, 10:12 AM
During 1937-1945 over 30 million Chinese died. Nanjing was one isolated case in ONE Chinese city where 300,000 people died. Do not exclude the rest of China and do not believe the Japanese were only inhuman savages in one place for 6 months.
Having $6,000 dollars is better than having nothing at all. ANy price cannot repair the damages the soldiers inflicted upon the civilians. The civilians don't even care anymore about how much money they get. For all they care as long as Japan gives them one Yen that is enough. That one yen represents Japan's recognition of its wrong doings and her good will to help the people they've so viciously attacked. It marks the day that Japan comes out of its hole of self denial and the day Sino-Japanese relations takes a step in the right direction.
barkerintokyo
Jun 25 2004, 10:28 AM
Don't make me laugh with that 300,000 victims BS. Not a single well educated Westerner believes that number. Even the people who actually believe the Second Nanking Incident to be true believe that the victim count couldn't have been that great. Not even half that number.
Killing someone on a battlefield during a war isn't a crime and isn't worthy of apologizing. The Japanese didn't kill 30 million people systematically and without arms.
If America doesn't need to aplogize for their mistakes then Japan, being America's pet nation, doesn't need to either. It is in our self-interest that we don't apologize. It is for our own safety.
tongbao_vince
Jun 25 2004, 10:43 AM
QUOTE (barkerintokyo @ Jun 25 2004, 11:28 AM)
Don't make me laugh with that 300,000 victims BS. Not a single well educated Westerner believes that number. Even the people who actually believe the Second Nanking Incident to be true believe that the victim count couldn't have been that great. Not even half that number.
Killing someone on a battlefield during a war isn't a crime and isn't worthy of apologizing. The Japanese didn't kill 30 million people systematically and without arms.
If America doesn't need to aplogize for their mistakes then Japan, being America's pet nation, doesn't need to either. It is in our self-interest that we don't apologize. It is for our own safety.
QUOTE
Don't make me laugh with that 300,000 victims BS. Not a single well educated Westerner believes that number.
Then they shouldn't be teaching the number '300,000' at university lectures.
QUOTE
Killing someone on a battlefield during a war isn't a crime and isn't worthy of apologizing. The Japanese didn't kill 30 million people systematically and without arms.
Of course some of them were armed or were soldiers. But the vast majority were civilians. I am still amazed at your denial that Japanese soldiers in WW2 were good people and weren't religious fanatics that enjoyed taking out their anger on civilians. Not just Chinese but Koreans, Vietnamese, Phillipino, Canadians, Australians, Americans, Malaysians, etc. have also felt the cruelty of Japanese soldiers. You'd think millions of people would make this crap up or self inflict baynoett wounds jsut to make great imperial japan look bad? No.
barkerintokyo
Jun 25 2004, 10:50 AM
The textbooks that I have used (the ones that even mention the Nanking Massacre at all, most don't) quote that the Chinese estimate this number. Some go as far as to say that it is an unreliable estimate.
I received American education.
parksecurity
Jun 25 2004, 05:52 PM
however the the Rape of Nanjing did happen, despite the denials of some crazy japanese nationalists...
its a bit shallow to seriously debate whether the true number killed was 100,000 or 300,000.... how would u know?? even if u were there??? could u really count all those bodies?? any figure is doomed to be only a prediction... and it would vary from source to source...
however, the important thing is that it happened... Japanese troops not only took control of the city... as would be normal in a war.... but they massacred and raped on a massive scale.... causing unimaginable human suffering....
who cares what kind of education u received... in anyone's book, the Rape of Nanjing is universally considered as one of the darkest and most cruel events of the 20th century....
and tongbao_vince is right, the Rape of Nanjing was only one brutal incident in which at most 300,000 were murdered.... but up to 30 million chinese were killed during the wrongful and brutal invasion of sovereign chinese soil...
barkerintokyo
Jun 25 2004, 06:18 PM
Maybe you don't know the concept of war or invasion but people are bound to be killed. It is sad that it must happen and it is sad that decisions were even made to go to war and to invade, but it happened and there's nothing we can do about that. But if you think about a country that has the world's largest population, the world's biggest army in terms of number of enlisted soldiers, you would expect the greatest number of casualties. YET, China didn't even experience even close to what the Russians experienced. Russians all mostly died in battle too. It is easier to say that most Chinese were killed in battle than systematically killed when a greater number was killed in Russia in lesser amount of time.
30 million Chinese were not killed. The total Allied military and civilian casualty was 44 million. "Most experts estimate the military and civilian losses of Allied forces at 44 million and those of the Axis at 11 million. The total number of civilian losses includes the 5.6 million to 5.9 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. Of all the nations that participated in World War II, the human cost of the war fell heaviest on the USSR, for which the official total, military and civilian, is given as more than 20 million killed. The United States, which had no significant civilian losses, sustained more than 400,000 deaths." Microsoft Encarta
© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
"China Personnel: 5,000,000 Military killed: 1,324,500 Military wounded: 1,762,000 Prisoners of war: N/A Civilian dead: 4"
© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
And I only told you that I received an American education because you people constantly bring it up. You always say that I believe what I do because I was brainwashed by the Japanese education system. Not once have I not seen anyone prove that the Japanese education system is faulty (so it wouldn't even matter if I received a Japanese education anyway) not one person has acknowledged the fact I received an American education. I don't understand why you people don't read other people's posts (or perhaps just my posts). You don't like Japanese people? You don't like listening to them? Are you just racist towards Japanese people? Or are you just inconsiderate towards me?
parksecurity
Jun 25 2004, 07:25 PM
are u dumb or illiterate??
can u read this?--it is estimated that 30 million chinese were killed during the japanese invasion...
how can u rewrite history by yourself??
and plus, you provided WWII statistics...
this encyclopedia entry doesn't say anything about the japanese invasion of china which started in 1931, far earlier than the start of WWII in 1939... even the smallest estimates say that over 20 million chinese were killed during the Japanese invasion...
According to your WWII statistics, it seems the estimate is that 10 million chinese died during WWII alone, give or take a few million....
why don't you start at the beginning of the invasion, which started in 1931
Made in China
Jun 25 2004, 07:59 PM
The conflict lasted for 97 months and 3 days (measured from 1937 to 1945). The Kuomintang fought in 22 major engagements (會戰), each of which involved at least one hundred thousand troops from both sides, and in just over 40,000 skirmishes. The CCP fought in 111,500 engagements of various sizes. The Japanese recorded around 1.1 million military casualties, wounded and missing. The Chinese suffered much worse, losing approximately 3.22 million soldiers. 9.13 million civilians died in crossfire, and another 8.4 million as non-military casualties. Property loss of the Chinese valued up to 383,301.3 million US dollars according to the currency exchange rate in July 1937, roughly 50 times of the GDP of Japan (770 million US dollars).
17.53 million people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Japanese_War_(1937-1945)
barkerintokyo
Jun 25 2004, 08:22 PM
A country with the greatest population in the world loses a war, you would expect a great casualty. Plus Japan did enough to pay for its mistakes.
Japan has also attempted to make up for its role in World War II. Chinese historical artifacts from the war were placed in Japanese museums with information about how they were obtained through Japanese aggression. Japan established a private consolation fund for comfort women who were used as sex slaves during the war. Unlike Germany, Japan has paid monetary reparations to many of the individual nations it invaded. It allocating $3.9 billion to the Philippines, Vietnam, Burma, and Indonesia, in addition to giving $300 million and loaning $200 million to South Korea as "management of claims" for a former colony, although the Korean government supposedly hides this from its people. Also unlike Germany, Japanese prime ministers have apologized directly for the invasion of China. Most notably, former Prime Minister of Japan Murayama Tomiichi offered an apology ("owabi") in 1995 on the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II.
Many governments, including Thailand and China, relinquished their claim to Japanese reparations. Japan responded by compensating factories and railroads in China's Manchuria region with billions of dollars. The Chinese government later asked for direct compensation. Japan began Official Development Assistance to China in 1979. It has provided $30 billion through the ODA and continues this practice today. Additionally, Japanese school textbooks describe the invasion of China and its subsequent negative effects on the Chinese people. Japan also allows freedom of speech and discussion among the differing views its citizens have regarding issues like its role in World War II and the efficacy of its retributions. Finally, the government of Japan was judged responsible for the war and war criminals were taken to task by Allied forces or the People's Liberation Army. Until 1950, Class A, B, and C war criminals working for Japan, both Japanese and foreign (e.g. General Hong of Korea) were judged; some of these are still banned from entering the United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-war_Germ..._post-war_Japan
parksecurity
Jun 25 2004, 08:51 PM
Japan has never apologized for the war crimes and atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial army...
many Class A War Criminals, indirectly responsible for millions of death, lived, including the Emperor Hirohito who is comparable to Hitler...
PM Koizumi and other high ranking Japanese officials regularly pay their respects at war shrines that honour War Criminals and Japanese soldiers who committed barbaric crimes...
japanese textbooks and japanese officials have continued to distort and deny Japan's wartime history...
btw.. the Japanese reparations to other nations is paled in comparison to what Germany gave to the victims of WWII and the Holocaust.. even though Japan has an economy 2x the size of Germany's and should be able to shoulder it much easier...
Plus, Japan receives a lot more economic benefit from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) which is given to countries all around the world... ODA paves the way for lucrative economic deals and preferential status...
This aide has also not been linked to the all-important issue of Japan's wartime history...
Made in China
Jun 25 2004, 11:00 PM

Not to say the Last Queen of Korea was raped by Japanese invading soldiers
AtlantisStar
Jun 25 2004, 11:03 PM
All you guys can do is blame blame blame.
Rad Raz
Jun 25 2004, 11:34 PM
QUOTE (AtlantisStar @ Jun 26 2004, 12:03 AM)
All you guys can do is blame blame blame.
And your point is... nothing.
Anyone cares? None.
barkerintokyo
Jun 26 2004, 06:38 AM
"Japan has never apologized for the war crimes and atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial army..."
This is a lie.
"many Class A War Criminals, indirectly responsible for millions of death, lived, including the Emperor Hirohito who is comparable to Hitler..."
Yes there are people like that. And the reason why they have the label Class A War Criminal is because they were properly put to trial and forced to undergo the appropriate punishment.
"PM Koizumi and other high ranking Japanese officials regularly pay their respects at war shrines that honour War Criminals and Japanese soldiers who committed barbaric crimes..."
You have no idea who he is honoring at Yasukuni. And even if he is honoring them, it is just Japanese culture to pay respect to dead no matter what he did. Plus, those people who go to Yasukuni are doing this on their own personal excurtions and do not represent the will of the government.
"btw.. the Japanese reparations to other nations is paled in comparison to what Germany gave to the victims of WWII and the Holocaust.. even though Japan has an economy 2x the size of Germany's and should be able to shoulder it much easier..."
Germany committed a much more heinous crime than Japan. Then again, no crime is worse than another crime. All crimes are equally bad, I guess. BUT, Germany's restitution barely helped any families and Germany didn't pay a single cent to governments. On the other hand, Japan has paid inordinate amounts of money to China and Korea and other Southeast Asian nations.
"Plus, Japan receives a lot more economic benefit from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) which is given to countries all around the world... ODA paves the way for lucrative economic deals and preferential status..."
It is China that is receiving the beneficial ODA from Japan. Japan is a donator of ODA not a receiver. Over the years (and still now) China has been receiving billions of yen all of which have NOT been used to develop their nation but in fact have been used by the rich to buy new and upgrade old weapons. Also, the ODA has been used to fund their space program. Japan doesn't even have a decent space program but China is using Japanese money to fund their own space program. I don't think that's fair.
"japanese textbooks and japanese officials have continued to distort and deny Japan's wartime history..."
Again, you bring this up but fail to recognize that the textbook never came into use and never contained any faults to begin with. Perhaps you would like to try again at proving your point but of course it will be to no avail.
AtlantisStar
Jun 26 2004, 10:23 AM
QUOTE (Rad Raz @ Jun 26 2004, 12:34 AM)
QUOTE (AtlantisStar @ Jun 26 2004, 12:03 AM)
All you guys can do is blame blame blame.
And your point is... nothing.
Anyone cares? None.
And my point is that all you people just keep blaming.
How in the hell can you just say that when I posted something that's pretty obvious.
asaka
Jun 28 2004, 03:19 AM
Go back to the answer of the topic.
"Is Japan still responsible for ..."
-> "no, it is not" or more than that, Japanese people are tired of asked for Money or any form of apology.
I dont think that Japanese foreign ministry has policy to cut all the continuous noise from China and Korea. But, because of internet, Japanese people has started feeling "DISCOMFORT" in looking at government or Media, which is all left due to past war experience, delivering the image "JAPAN DID BAD THINGS!!"
That is what I feel among Japanese citizen nowadays. :genius:
In economy booth, it was ok to give away bilions of dollars. But when it comes to bad economy, story is totally different.
asaka
Jun 28 2004, 03:26 AM
BTW, just think this way.
If fundamental islamic terrorists attacked seriously against Korea and Japan because they helped USA. You guys might forget all about "past" and started feelign friendship with Japan "BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMON ENEMY"
you see this part? "COMMON ENEMY" is the key for the friendship.
Of course, if that happens, Japan has excuse to have "army" JUST LIKE you guys. (do you complain if we arm to fight together with you?)
jimkim
Jun 28 2004, 03:27 PM
QUOTE (asaka @ Jun 28 2004, 04:26 AM)
BTW, just think this way.
If fundamental islamic terrorists attacked seriously against Korea and Japan because they helped USA. You guys might forget all about "past" and started feelign friendship with Japan "BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMON ENEMY"
you see this part? "COMMON ENEMY" is the key for the friendship.
Of course, if that happens, Japan has excuse to have "army" JUST LIKE you guys. (do you complain if we arm to fight together with you?)

No matter how much "collaboration" there seems to be between countries these days, there is still a general feeling of hatred towards Japan by a majority Koreans and Chinese. Why not swallow your pride for a bit, and apologize? It's just practical and useful gesture for Japan--a symbolic act which would ultimately end up improving relations, and end the decade-long hatred that have existed between the countries?
asaka
Jun 28 2004, 05:46 PM
Then, if you do feel it is right to keep saying "apology".
It is also right of some of Japanese to keep saying you Korean or Chinese killed my grand pa in past war and the way my grand pa was killed was so cruel. So, you need to apologize (for example)
Hatred is everywhere. If you keep saying the same thing, nothing can be moving forward. because of US government has done good job brainwashing Japanese mind, we did not spend any of our time to keep asking for apology for US, which makes me feel sad time to time.
But if you Korean or Chinese are really happy to repeat history, that is your choice. Japan has already shifted to "post-war" period. It is not "interest of japan" to keep looking backward. At least my generation (20s) is concerned.
By the way, if you say "pride" in Japanese, it is SAD to say that there is nothing much going on in our people unlike what your media wants to say(you should realize that your media is sending you government propaganda). But because of internet, people in Japan has started having their own thinking. It is happening just recently. Of course, thinking is based on the attitude of Japanese Media and government to you guys, which we hated big time, and whatever you guys are keep saying, which is combination of apology and money. (-> our economy cannot afford any more money. As you know, our bubble has been burst. I hope that Japanese government stop all the ODA from now on unless it is very necessary for some countries.)
barkerintokyo
Jun 28 2004, 06:15 PM
China is a greedy country that will continue to want money from us. Apology is not what they want. It is our money. They know that if we apologize, then we are admitting that we are at fault and as a result, we will have to pay reparations in the real sense.
Korea is the same. Both countries know the benefits they will reap the second Japan will admit they are at fault. Whether we are at fault or not, it is in our best interest to not admit it. A government's raison d'etre is to protect the interests of its people and to protect its citizens. By admitting to crimes that Japan is not guilty of, this is violating the purpose of the government.
jimkim
Jun 28 2004, 06:52 PM
QUOTE (asaka @ Jun 28 2004, 06:46 PM)
Then, if you do feel it is right to keep saying "apology".
It is also right of some of Japanese to keep saying you Korean or Chinese killed my grand pa in past war and the way my grand pa was killed was so cruel. So, you need to apologize (for example)
Hatred is everywhere. If you keep saying the same thing, nothing can be moving forward. because of US government has done good job brainwashing Japanese mind, we did not spend any of our time to keep asking for apology for US, which makes me feel sad time to time.
But if you Korean or Chinese are really happy to repeat history, that is your choice. Japan has already shifted to "post-war" period. It is not "interest of japan" to keep looking backward. At least my generation (20s) is concerned.
By the way, if you say "pride" in Japanese, it is SAD to say that there is nothing much going on in our people unlike what your media wants to say(you should realize that your media is sending you government propaganda). But because of internet, people in Japan has started having their own thinking. It is happening just recently. Of course, thinking is based on the attitude of Japanese Media and government to you guys, which we hated big time, and whatever you guys are keep saying, which is combination of apology and money. (-> our economy cannot afford any more money. As you know, our bubble has been burst. I hope that Japanese government stop all the ODA from now on unless it is very necessary for some countries.)
What examples in history are you referring to of Japanese suffering at the hands of Koreans?
Why do you make excuse after excuse, when what you really want to say is you don't want to apologize?
What media propaganda? I learned about it first hand--my fgrandather--who had to live through the occupation. WWII did not occur in the distant past. Most Koreans lived have vivid memories of it today. People do want to move on--that's right--but there will always be a rift and distrust of the Japanese over their their misdeeds in the War. Is that how you want people to view Japan? It is more in their interest to apologize rather than not.
The US did offer an apology to Japanese American internment victims, and some even regret its bombing of Hiro & Naga. The Japanese on the other hand deny they did anything wrong. Maybe Japan has something to learn from the US?
Koreans don't need your money.
asaka
Jun 28 2004, 07:11 PM
I agree with barkerintokyo (I guess he is japanese as well).
We as individual feel sorry for whatever actually happened (I dont think everything Korea or China keep saying happened) but there is no way for us to know real thing.
But when it comes to government, story is different. They are not individula. cannot and should not say sorry everywhere.
BTW, if you say Japan should learn from US, I agree, that is what we are supposed to be doing. But we cannot really do the magnitude US can do since we cannot be evil like Pre. Bush can be.
The fact: Just like Korean feel, Japan does not feel that US did appologyzed. BUT we can forget about it since US appology has nothing to help Japan at present time.
Appology = Money. You as Korean individula doesnot need money does not mean government does not need money.
jimkim
Jun 28 2004, 07:30 PM
QUOTE (asaka @ Jun 28 2004, 08:11 PM)
I agree with barkerintokyo (I guess he is japanese as well).
We as individual feel sorry for whatever actually happened (I dont think everything Korea or China keep saying happened) but there is no way for us to know real thing.
But when it comes to government, story is different. They are not individula. cannot and should not say sorry everywhere.
BTW, if you say Japan should learn from US, I agree, that is what we are supposed to be doing. But we cannot really do the magnitude US can do since we cannot be evil like Pre. Bush can be.
The fact: Just like Korean feel, Japan does not feel that US did appologyzed. BUT we can forget about it since US appology has nothing to help Japan at present time.
Appology = Money. You as Korean individula doesnot need money does not mean government does not need money.
The real thing? In the case of Korea, do you deny that for nearly 36 years you engaged in cultural genocide forcing every Korean to adopt Japanese surnames, speak Japanese & forbid Korean. Or what about the comfort women. There are millions of witnesses to this effect, while in the past the Japanese gov't lied about it. Who should we believe?
These crimes were not individual, isolated incidents, but committed on a massive scale by Japanese soldiers and gov;t officials. The gov't knew it was going on and it was pervasive--so why wouldn't you think they didn't condone it.
US DID apologize.
Just because gov'ts are asking for an apology does not naturally follow they are asking for money. There are lots of cases to this effect. Anyway the gov't can refuse these claims.
asaka
Jun 28 2004, 08:09 PM
I did not deny any of what you said. I just said "I dont know if everything said was true"
You said "US appology" and We dont remember any US appology and we dont even need any appology.
More than appology, I am hoping that Japanese government will build some sort of global system based on strategy so that we could ignore whatever US force us to do. I am talking about future.
Regardless of appology, China and Korea will need to work with Japan as economic partner so as Japan does. It does not need any friendship maybe.
But you should know that there is "manipulated KOREAN boom in Japanese mass media" Some sort of drama is very popular among Old ladies. You guys should benefit of this fovorite attitude of Japanese for the future.
If those crazy ladies realized that "KOREAN HATES JAPAN FOR THE PAST", things get more difficult.
I think that Korean government is smart enought to get into Japanese mind by using entertainment. I dont like it. But it is the fact. But since those past war education hunting backfire against their government strategy, Korean Government started calming their tone against Japan.
So, it is interesting to see that if Korean government can stop those "anti-Japanese educational effect of 50 yrs to proceed the successful culture invation into Japan.
It is all about timing. If most of Japanese realized that KOREA HATES JAPAN, we will establish the stereotype "KOREA sucks for JAPAN" and might have to wait for another 50yrs of cycle.
But if KOREA stops hating JAPAN before Japanese realize and during this KOREAN BOOM, things can get better.
jimkim
Jun 28 2004, 08:36 PM
Right, I agree. Asian countries should collaborate in the future. But it's Japan that's angered and alienated their neighboring countries, not the other way around.
No one is ever going to trust Japan because of WWII. Therefore, it is in their interest to do something about--like apologize. I don't think you realize the depth of hatred that old Koreans feel towards the Japanese. And they are ones who control the policies of the Korean gov't.
I also don't think their modifying their policies towards Japan because they want to spread Korean entertainment. That's ludicrous. I really doubt that Koreans want to be reknown in Asia as having the best entertainers.
asaka
Jun 28 2004, 09:03 PM
That is true. I dont know how much old Korean hates Japanese.
But I do feel sorry for those lost lives in war. It does not matter Korean or Japanese or German because I am just a individual. I dont like to see Blood.
But when it comes to government, it should not. Because if Japanese government did so, it has so much disadvantage in the future. Japanese descendant should not suffer any of disadvantage which can be brought by government action.
Just a check a link.
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/974603/poststhere are americans discussing and it is very interesting and represent how world is at 21th centure after those terrorist war. In this picutre (painted by American), Japan is going to be something KOREA and CHINA dislike more. But this is the way it is. Personally, I kind of feel that America will again feel bothered by Japan in the future if they allow Japan (why do we need allowance? because Japan is one of those states of US despite the fact we dont like) to proceed this millitant move.
Once Japan will arm, it will never take weak position like saying appology. So, time is coming for Japan to be normal country with arm. Of course, if this is the ideal world, there is no reason for Japan to arm. But in order for Japan to speak in the world politic again, arm is necessary.
If people in Japan is ready for those? I am not sure. But we are really hoping that Japan will not be involved in the war forever since we forgot how to fight even.
Made in China
Jun 28 2004, 09:35 PM
Japan is a greedy country, warmonger nation who invades Asia, commites atrocities beyound imagination and allies itself with
Adolf Hitler and Mussolini.
After killing 50 million in Asia, it whines about US nuking them.
jimkim
Jun 28 2004, 09:45 PM
QUOTE (asaka @ Jun 28 2004, 10:03 PM)
That is true. I dont know how much old Korean hates Japanese.
But I do feel sorry for those lost lives in war. It does not matter Korean or Japanese or German because I am just a individual. I dont like to see Blood.
But when it comes to government, it should not. Because if Japanese government did so, it has so much disadvantage in the future. Japanese descendant should not suffer any of disadvantage which can be brought by government action.
Just a check a link.
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/974603/poststhere are americans discussing and it is very interesting and represent how world is at 21th centure after those terrorist war. In this picutre (painted by American), Japan is going to be something KOREA and CHINA dislike more. But this is the way it is. Personally, I kind of feel that America will again feel bothered by Japan in the future if they allow Japan (why do we need allowance? because Japan is one of those states of US despite the fact we dont like) to proceed this millitant move.
Once Japan will arm, it will never take weak position like saying appology. So, time is coming for Japan to be normal country with arm. Of course, if this is the ideal world, there is no reason for Japan to arm. But in order for Japan to speak in the world politic again, arm is necessary.
If people in Japan is ready for those? I am not sure. But we are really hoping that Japan will not be involved in the war forever since we forgot how to fight even.
So what if Japan arms itself? This is totally unrelated to the war crimes issue. You are engaging in a logical fallacy here.
And it really isn't USs business to butt into other countries' affairs, like North Korea's for instance. In some ways, I find asian countries have more socially responsibility than the US with respect to the arms issue.
BTW, you should really be more critical of what you read over the internet.
asaka
Jun 28 2004, 10:07 PM
Please read between lines.
1. KOREA and CHINA ask for Apology.
2. JAPAN does not the way they are satisfied for its policy.
3. JAPAN will start arming which will make JAPAN more unlikely to appologyze.
--> "is Japan still responsible for war crimes?"
--> Japan is less likely to listen to those armed country after its arm.
--> For US, armed Japan is best interest at new century.
==> Asking for apology will not work just like past 58yrs. so, what do you do?
Keep moving forward. Or spend another 58yrs for things less likely to happen.
But there is an way to make Japan follow whatever you guys say.
Just beat USA in some way so that Japan has nobody to depend on and threaten Japan for its existance. (which is something you dont like, I believe.)
Again, individulas feel sorry for whatever happenned. But government should not.
jimkim
Jun 28 2004, 10:19 PM
QUOTE (asaka @ Jun 28 2004, 11:07 PM)
Please read between lines.
1. KOREA and CHINA ask for Apology.
2. JAPAN does not the way they are satisfied for its policy.
3. JAPAN will start arming which will make JAPAN more unlikely to appologyze.
--> "is Japan still responsible for war crimes?"
--> Japan is less likely to listen to those armed country after its arm.
--> For US, armed Japan is best interest at new century.
==> Asking for apology will not work just like past 58yrs. so, what do you do?
Keep moving forward. Or spend another 58yrs for things less likely to happen.
But there is an way to make Japan follow whatever you guys say.
Just beat USA in some way so that Japan has nobody to depend on and threaten Japan for its existance. (which is something you dont like, I believe.)
Again, individulas feel sorry for whatever happenned. But government should not.
I know what you meant. But it does not naturally follow that just because a country arms itself, it will not apologize for past war crimes.
Take the US for instance. The gov't made reparations to Japanese Americans when it was engaging in a fierce arms race with Russia.
Also, the Japanese gov't committed the atrocities, so why shouldn't they express apology?
AtlantisStar
Jun 28 2004, 10:25 PM
QUOTE (asaka @ Jun 28 2004, 11:07 PM)
Please read between lines.
1. KOREA and CHINA ask for Apology.
2. JAPAN does not the way they are satisfied for its policy.
3. JAPAN will start arming which will make JAPAN more unlikely to appologyze.
--> "is Japan still responsible for war crimes?"
--> Japan is less likely to listen to those armed country after its arm.
--> For US, armed Japan is best interest at new century.
==> Asking for apology will not work just like past 58yrs. so, what do you do?
Keep moving forward. Or spend another 58yrs for things less likely to happen.
But there is an way to make Japan follow whatever you guys say.
Just beat USA in some way so that Japan has nobody to depend on and threaten Japan for its existance. (which is something you dont like, I believe.)
Again, individulas feel sorry for whatever happenned. But government should not.
This topic is so old. Asaka is basically saying what I've been saying since a year ago....
Made in China
Jun 28 2004, 10:57 PM
Japan is still responsible for what its atrocities.
AtlantisStar
Jun 28 2004, 10:58 PM
Alright, lets leave it at that.
barkerintokyo
Jun 29 2004, 04:43 AM
I don't know why Made IN China is so negative towards Japan. He believes in a Chinese stereotype of Japanese people that states that the Japanese are evil perverted race. People like him are the cause of bad international relations between Japan and China.
Japan will not apologize. The average Japanese person doesn't care about what happened fifty years ago and they don't even care about what's going on right now. What the average Japanese person must worry about is how they are going to eat tomorrow. How they are going to pay the mortgage on their house. How they are going to put their children to school. Japanese people have much more imminent dangers in their life. And by apologizing to China and Korea, more money will be sucked out of our pockets to help the Chinese be an even bigger threat to us.
Made in China, do you want a taste of your own medicine? I'm going to make up the same kind of crappy stereotypes that you make. Here goes:
Chinese people are evil, money mongering skum of the Earth. All they care about is money and they will break any rules and they dishonor anything if it means they can get more money. The only other thing they believe in is power and they will do anything to show the world that the Communist China will endure and be powerful for all time. Those reds. Those chineses.
There, how do you like that huh? It is based on just as solid of evidence as the evidence that you put out.
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