In Japan-China Ties, the Past Is Personal

[ChineseTiger1986]

Abe feels that he has to complete the iniative of his grandfather, the late PM Kishi, who wanted Japan to rebuild its defense forces , that was controlled by the Government, and not the one controlling Government. That was the very difference that represents post-war Japan from peri-war Japan. You should know that throughout the war PM Kishi and many others who spoke about the war in China were placed in house arrest. Kishi was strongly against the war in China and had counseled many individuals in Diet as well as military officials, including Tojo, to stop the war. Unfortunately, during that time, the Military Hawks controlled everything.

While I do agree that Abe is conservative (in the Japanese sense; Americans would consider his policies , especially his pro-large government role and protective policies as "left-leaning" ), he is definitely centered on democracy and on a democratic process. He is not a "militant" so to say , but only fosters the same ideals as his late grandfather who espoused a Japan without post-war limitations on its abilities. A post-war Japan that is a Liberal Democracy and not one under a Military Dictatorship.

Actually, Japan is still a monarchist society under the cover of the western democracy.

Abe in fact serves for you emperor, and your emperor is always the true head of state in Japan.

The US doesn't understand you guys culturally, but we do.

 

[Aepsilons]

Had Japan not waged war in Asia, it would have a sovereign foreign policy today and probably a very powerful East Asia Union could have been forged between China/Korea/Japan. Imagine the war didn't take place and Japan was ahead of its time with industrialization it could have helped Korea/China with trade or investments as Japan would benefit from this. Well Japan made the wrong decision and it took years before Sino-Japanese were normalized yet the ghost from the past still lingers in the thoughts among Chinese and Koreans. A pity that Japan still cannot learn from Germany.

This is the reason why we , as a people, must never allow Military War Hawks to ever have control in Government. Military must always be put on check, to be servant of the people, not the rulers of people or dictating policies. The Military Dictatorship of Japan in 1925-1945 is Japan's greatest shame, and the greatest curse of Japanese people. It is not because our lives were affected, but because the Military Government had used racist ideology , imperialist narrative and psychology to brainwash Japanese children , and civilians to conduct horrible war against people in Asia. And the millions of our fraternal Chinese who were killed , and despicably so. This is a shame of every Japanese and a filth that I wish we could wash ourselves from. I wish it had never happened.

 

[terranMarine]

This is the reason why we , as a people, must never allow Military War Hawks to ever have control in Government. Military must always be put on check, to be servant of the people, not the rulers of people or dictating policies. The Military Dictatorship of Japan in 1925-1945 is Japan's greatest shame, and the greatest curse of Japanese people. It is not because our lives were affected, but because the Military Government had used racist ideology , imperialist narrative and psychology to brainwash Japanese children , and civilians to conduct horrible war against people in Asia. And the millions of our fraternal Chinese who were killed , and despicably so. This is a shame of every Japanese and a filth that I wish we could wash ourselves from. I wish it had never happened.

Yeah i think it could have been much more between our countries than what we currently have. A war in East Asia doesn't serve our interests and hopefully no war will occur in this region again. I'm still surprised Japan hasn't decided what to do with the war criminals in the Yasukuni shrine after all this time.