Hard labor for Japan's foreign minister
By Christopher Reed

While Foreign Minister Taro Aso's statements have only exacerbated tensions between Tokyo and the rest of Asia, a family connection to wartime forced labor has raised further questions over his ability to oversee good relations with Japan's neighbors.

The Aso family's mining company used thousands of Koreans as forced laborers during World War II. This legacy of Koreans, Chinese and other Asians being coerced into slave-like working conditions across the region more than six decades ago has become an issue in Tokyo's maintenance of normal diplomatic relations in East Asia. Reports that 300 Allied prisoners of war (POWs) also performed forced labor at an Aso coal mine are now spreading in Western countries. Aso's family background and his personal refusal to engage the issue have led some to suggest that his position as foreign minister is untenable.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/HE03Dh01.html

Is anyone really surprised that the relationships between Korean - Japan and China - Japan are not good at all? With someone like ASO as a FM, who is notoriously hawkish, does anyone actually think Japan can get along with its neighbors?

well if people like the emperor were in power, Japan would get along with its neighbours

I can't speak for his ability to do the job. Politics is a dirty business. Sometimes I think diplomats live for the moment another has a slight breach in edicate just so they can throw a temper tantrum. Make some headlines and thus justify some position.
As for his family dealings in the past. Most families have skeletons they would rather forget about. That was 64 years ago. He should atleast address it to the point of admitting that it happened. Then state that it wont happen again. I don't see that he should be held accountable for sins his family committed if he had no part in it. If that were the case their are alot of people out there that need to answer up. But when you take a public office you sort of forfiet your privacy.