We must continue to question Japan’s historical mistake: war of aggression

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

We must continue to question Japan’s historical mistake: war of aggression

Akahata editorial

December 8 marks the 67th anniversary of Japan’s start of the Pacific War against the United States, Britain and other countries. Japan, which had invaded the Korean Peninsula and China, launched surprise attacks on the Malay Peninsula and Hawaii.

The Japanese crime of engaging in its war of aggression and colonial rule which caused untold damage to the Japanese people as well as other Asian peoples, will never be forgotten.

On the contrary, Japanese politicians’ praise of the war of aggression continues, including visits to Yasukuni Shrine by former Prime Minister Koizumi Jun’ichiro and the recent statements by former Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Tamogami Toshio.

If Japan is to play a role in promoting world peace based on true remorse over its war of aggression, we must not stop reflecting on its war crimes.

Untenable argument praising the war of aggression

In 1931, the so-called Manchuria Incident was engineered in northeast China by Japan, followed by a full-scale Sino-Japanese war and the Pacific War. During these 15 years of the Japanese war of aggression, over 20 million people in Asian and Pacific countries were killed. In Taiwan and on the Korean Peninsula, Japan implemented colonial rule, forcing them to adopt Japanese-style names and abducting many of them to Japan for forced labor. These were nothing less than crimes against humanity.

Tamogami as well as the pro-Yasukuni forces who praised Prime Minister Koizumi’s Yasukuni Shrine visits argue that the past Japanese wars should be justified as wars in “self-defense” and for the “liberation of Asia.” Tamogami went as far as to state that it was "undoubtedly a false accusation" to say that Japan was an aggressor country.

History shows clearly that Japan’s aggression against Asia, including the Korean Peninsula and China, was aimed at its territorial expansion. It is a well-known fact that more than a year before the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese imperial government and military had adopted a policy of putting not only China, but also Southeast Asian countries, the Pacific islands, India, and even Australia under its control as “integral areas for Japan’s existence.” This shows how fallacious it is to defend these wars as acts in “self-defense”.

After its defeat in the war, Japan accepted the conclusion of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, which accused Japan of war crimes. It made a fresh start by clearly stating in the preamble of the new Constitution the Japanese people’s resolve “that never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government.” Any acts of affirming and praising the past Japanese wars amount to avoiding any self-criticism and reneging on this promise to the international community and to the Japanese people.

However, since the end of the war, Japan has been bound by the military alliance with the United States and assisted the U.S. in its many wars, reneging on the principle Japan adopted at its fresh start after WWII. Even under these circumstances, Japan has never started a war or killed anyone in war. This explains why Japan has been understood by the international community as a peaceful country. This is proof that Japan chose the correct course for its new start after the war.

It is 60 years since the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Pro-Yasukuni forces are trying to denounce it as the victors’ court, but their stance will be strongly opposed internationally. Instead, it is necessary for Japan to apologize and compensate those affected for forcing people from other countries to serve as sex slaves for the Japanese military and to work as forced laborers, issues which were not brought up in the International Military Tribunal. This will help the victims and their families retrieve their lost honor and provide a way for Japan to be true to its self-reflection on its war of aggression.

JCP has consistently been opposed to war of aggression

During the prewar period of despotic rule, the Japanese Communist Party opposed the war of aggression at the cost of the lives of many of its members. Since the end of WWII, the JCP has criticized the war of aggression so that Japan should never repeat such crimes against humanity.

Japan’s renunciation of war as a fundamental principle is now increasing its influence throughout the world. The need is to arrest any back currents calling for war and work hard for peace in Japan and the rest of the world.

- Akahata editorial, December 8, 2008