Japan WWII

In the essay, which is likely to spark outrage in China and South Korea, Tamogami wrote: "Even now there are many people who think that out country's aggression caused unbearable suffering to the country's of Asia during the Great East Asia War," he said.

Japanese nationalists use the term the Great East Asia War to support their view that Japan entered the conflict to free Asian countries from western colonialism.

"But we need to realise that many Asian countries take a positive view of the [war]. It is certainly a false accusation to say that our country was an aggressor."

Tamogami, who took up the post in March 2007, called for Japan to reclaim its "glorious history". He said: "A nation that denies its own history is destined to pursue a path of decline."

He said the Korean peninsula had been "prosperous and safe" under Japan's 1910-1945 occupation and that Roosevelt had "trapped" Japan into attacking Pearl Harbour in December 1941. He went on to accuse the then US leader of being a puppet of the Comintern, the international communist movement founded in Moscow in 1919.

Tamogami, who did not seek the defence ministry's permission to submit the essay, also shares the view of many neo-nationalists that the Allied war crimes tribunals - which sent several Japanese leaders to the gallows for war crimes - were a farce.

Titling of the "Great East Asia War" makes complete sense and I don't see how just the title would equate the freeing of Asia from Colonial powers unless described as so.

Korea was prosperous and safe under Japan's occupation, they completely reformed the Nation into something respectable.

Roosevelt did trap Japan into attacking Pearl Harbor by signing the Oil embargo. They also threatened that Japan stop their War with China immediately and to withdraw from Manchuria.

You might think the writer is a complete crackpot, essentially calling Roosevelt a communist but it's a shared opinion of many as well as him being a Fascist pig.

Although I do agree he's completely over his head and should offer a more levelheaded view than looking like an ultranationalist.

It's a very arrogant assertion that Korea would not have transformed into a modern society without Japan. The Kingdom of Chosun was well on it's way without Japanese interference.

That's Japan POV, what about non Japanese POV?
Did Korea ever asked for Japan at first place?

“Korea was prosperous and safe under Japan's occupation, they completely reformed the Nation into something respectable.”

Japanese colonization of Korea brought prosperity only to Japan. How Korean can be prosperous if japan stoled its resoruces? Infra-structure investment made by Japan in Korea were necessary so that Japan could take Korean natural resources to Japan. That's what colonization is all about: stealing ones resources by force without due compensation.

"But we need to realise that many Asian countries take a positive view of the [war]. It is certainly a false accusation to say that our country was an aggressor."

This basically says that some Asian countries are thankful to Japan because they were invaded by Japan. Than Japan should be thankful to the USA because they dropped the nukes and prevented Japan from keeping fighting a lost war.

it was M&A
korea was not a colony

The Truth of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JHeghTfaVU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk3-YzsugcY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JESc4H0awH0

IF........

So….. is this the evidence of your “good Japan”??? come on, that bull$hit is older than the grandmother of my grandmother !! Japan has worn out their stock of lies so now you better renew your stock of such nonsense.
Kid, the Japanese are the only ones that still believe such trash.
Stop showing that things around the net because you are only spitting on your own face.

It was justifiable at that time
it is not as today's value.
as for history, Actually, it was praised by international comunity

Japan never understand the korean Witch hunting(pro-japanese) as Ex post facto law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_post_facto_law

at first, korean should read this one at that time
http://koreaweb.ws/pipermail/koreanstudies...uly/005773.html

I would have admired Japan for freeing its Asian neighbors from French, British, Dutch, and American imperialism, if that was their intent when they invaded and occupied their neighbors. But no, all they wanted was the resources of those countries to fuel their war machine and to install puppet governments, perhaps even intending to annex them into its empire in the long run while slowly Japanizing its citizens. Most importantly, they committed all manner of atrocities, chiefly rape and murder, that won't be forgotten for generations to come. If they had just invaded the countries to defeat the European and American imperialists without harming the native citizens and then left, that would've been fine and many people would've been grateful for that. But no, they had to stay and slaughter, rape, pillage, and conquer.

True that but as we have seen, humans are far from their fairy tale counterparts. Even after "Imperial Japan" was crushed and ousted from Asia- the "HEROES" of South Korea, North Korea, Communist China & much of South East Asia all continued reigns of terror equal to the Japanese if not more brutal. Why did these Nations who were so emotionally hurt by these so called atrocities committed by Japan feel it necessary to commit the VERY SAME atrocities AFTER the fact? As much as one should be aware of the Rape of Nanking with the "Evil Japanese", one should be aware of the Cultural Revolution with the "Heroic Chinese".

The whole international comunity at that time were colonialist but it still does not legitimate what they did in Africa, Asia and so on.
Before Meiji era Japan was an underdeveloped country, than would have been legitime if Korea colonized Japan and stole it resources and brutalize the japaneses? Would you praise Korea for such benevolence?
Look at your general, was fired because of the stupid things he said. The whole justification of korean colonization by Japan "for the sake of koreans" is a big lie. Just accept the fact and try to learn some lesson from it.
Now life goes no, let the past rest still and stop provoking koreans with stupid lies.

Man, I don't know what you are talking about. Asians acted as brutally as Japan after WWII??? Give an example, please.
Anyway, it still does not justify japanese crimes during the war. There is no connection between the facts. But if you think japanses crimes can be justified by crimes commited by other asian countries, than we koreans could commit war crimes in Japan and justify it with your own crimes commited during the WWII. You see, it just does not make sense.

korea did in vietnam
so was china...
what did japan commit war crimes ?
Japan never comitted war crime.

http://www.geocities.co.jp/Milano-Aoyama/6915/

Japan accepted only Judgement of that

No I'm merely feeding a dose of reality into History. No where do my words speak justification. You need to re-read my message. I think it's quite strange that we are more readily to accept the brutality of our own Government than we are from an Aggressor Nation.

If Japanese people had not won their first war with russians, the whole Asia, and as first, East Asia could been almost guaranteed consumed by tsarists bastards of russia

Criminals never confess their crime.

Stop trying to justify korea colonization with rethoric.
Your "if" is just rethoric but japanese war crimes were real.
You are part of a minority in Japan that wants to deny the truth by blaming others.
It did happen and was only for your own benefit. Accept it as s sign of maturity.

China & Korea, not Japan, were in such pathetic states which is why things like annexation was possible. Their horrendous leadership back then compromises Asia even today.



This no justification, this is a fact. Korea was colonized because their Government was not capable on the Global level. They were in danger of being colonized by Russians or British which jeopardized Japan. They were already making moves into Manchuria and did not respect Asia or Japan. This is no justification, this is WHY they were colonized. Japan's War Crimes are separate issues and have no place when discussing the Colonization unless we're on the topic of War Crimes.

If British or russian are the one that colonize asia, then the hate wouldnt be targeted at Japan. If Japan did not have such an ambition to compete with these other colonial powers and stay put like the Ottoman empire, then noone would hate you today. The problem, is that you did have such an ambition. Therefore, you cannot blame the occupied to hate you today.

Russia and Britian will not directly threaten Japan, until they directly attack you. Such a threat is fictional.

Is this some kind of clever wording? That means they indirectly attack Japan? Russia occupied Manchuria, was that fictional? Russia refused to recognize Japanese sovereignty over Karafuto, was that fictional? Mind you, during all this European powers are walking all over Asia like they own the place. Thailand was fighting border skirmishes with the French, China's main ports were being seized, Manchuria was occupied by Russians and all the rest of Asia was controlled by someone other than by themselves. The threat was not fictional.

So? Are you Chinese? Are you Thai? Why do you care what happen to other powers?

Dont get me wrong, if you offer to help doing those time, nowadays we would praise you, not throw hate you. The point is you didnt help. Your join the EU in a game of colonization. And for that, you cannot blame modern asian to hate japan. Moreover, Japan apologies are pathetic compare to the german's one.

And to be on the fair side, no, asian did not forget or forgive EU for their behavior. But seeing how the modern world work via globalization, we all have to put out a smile in public despite the fact that we all hate each other guts. Look at all the smiles at G-20.

who is "we"
at least, Korean at that time paraised Japan
A background at that time is very important.



How did German apologize?
To whom did Germany apologize?

Do you know what threat means? Here let me help you:

1threat
1 : an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
2 : one that threatens
3 : an indication of something impending <the sky held a threat of rain>

Anyway your little speech does not make any sense. Who was asking for a forgiveness? Why do I care why other Nations hate Japan? I'm not looking forgiving attitudes so you can stop talking about it as if it matters.

We as in the asian communities affected in WW2.



German apologize in many ways by many german leaders. But the most famous one is Willy Brandt, in 1970 after he got elected.

A picture is worth a thousand words, I shall post a short video of his apology:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ft6ueMkE04...feature=related


There is no comparison between this and Japan. Simply no comparison.



Alright, so in your view Japan does not need forgiveness from pacific Asia?

In that case it still doesnt give Japan a moral right to invade China and Korea, and eventually the whole pacific. Whats more, China like any other nations has a right to defend herself against any foreign threat, be it British, Russian, or Japanese.

People like you, are harming japanese interest. Because you are giving good justification for China to take revenge on your country in the future. That, can be in the form of economic warfare, political pressure, and trade route restriction, not just military. In the end, your hardcore, non-forgiving attitude is only hurting your own interest.

he apologized for Jew who was nothing to do with war because of ethnical cleansing.

Asian communities?
you mean only korean and China?


Japan does not need your forgiveness. LOL



I look forward.

I've seen cited on these boards the sincerity of the Germans after WW2 but few understand why he actually apologized. His apology was basically a requirement from the US/British powers for protection from the Soviets during the Cold War. There is no sincerity, it's all politics.

Did not change the fact that he did it. The symbolism and metaphor for the war is there. Japan have nothing like this to any victums in WW2.

Are you telling me that Japan have to have a bigger power to point a weapon at your back to do whats right?

Japan wont have any moral high ground until they recognize everything that has happen, and beg for the forgiveness asia pacific.



6 million jews die in WW2. Learn some history?



Who else did Japan invade in WW2, you tell me.



Does not change the fact that asia Pacific still hode a grudge on Japan for WW2.



Its happening.

Personally I don't care if Japan apologizes or not. Hating Japan isn't bad for China. All progress is through struggle. China can afford to have this fairly easy enemy.

it seem like NK's masturbation
I know the chinese fertility like cockroach is powerful,

Chinese fertility is healthy for the amount of land we have
Japan fertility is the intention to suicide, your national excellence

No, Korea was not colonized because it was not able to on a global level. Korea was colonized, because Japan wanted to expand like the Europeans did and obtain colonies. Everyone was doing it at the time, even the Americans years before that.

Although I am fully against the Japanese colonization of Korea, I believe Japan was doing it to simply be an industrial and global power at the time.

Now, that said, it doesn't excuse the fact that the Japanese government at the time restricted Korean culture and tried to eliminate the Korean language. That is inexusable, something that even the European powers didn't do, for the most part. Had Japan not taken that route, I don't think the Korean negative sentiments against Japan would be as intense. For example, Japan didn't do that to the Taiwanese, which is why many Taiwanese love Japan and even wish to be "taken over" by Japan again.

And no, Japanese war crimes are not a separate issue, as they happened when Korea was still an official Japanese colony. Anything that happened to Korea under Japanese colonization is a viable issue to discuss, even war crimes.

If Japan had been serious about liberation, it wouldn't have banned the native languages in schools or forced the "liberated" peoples to do everything in Japanese. That's just flat out annexation.

what a weird portrayal of history from manko.

Japan didn't fight Russians or British for Korea. Japan ignored Chinese influence in Korea that lasted hundreds of years and fought Chinese for it. So your "this is for Asia" argument doesn't have much traction at all.

I'm not saying Qing China was an easy country to deal with, or that there wasn't a huge amount of ignorance, but if you want co-prosperity at least don't pick on the Asian country that is already struggling. Not to mention Japan's methods weren't nearly as civilized as the Europeans. You quite often assassinated people including the Korean queen and Chinese general Zhang Zuolin. I give it to Japan's lack of experience in empire building..nobody can tolerate your bushido $hit trying to shove a katana down my throat.

1. You do realize Korea was taken control of and annexed without an actual War with Korea, right? They were not capable on Global level. End of story.

2. Yes, I agree they were doing into become an industrial and global power. In order to compete they had to shore up resources and protect dangerous areas that threatened their efforts.

3. You don't like the Japanese policy? Fine. But to compare it European colonization is questionable on your part. What are you trying to say exactly? Is this your way of trying to make out the Japanese as more evil because the Europeans didn't do it? lol. It's a lot like that story of the Nazi who was shocked at the Japanese treatment of Chinese. It was only one guy and he wasn't really a Nazi.

4. The War crimes happened during the WAR. It's a separate issue. We're talking about the Colonies in time of peace.

Rather you like it or not, not even the head master of the Japanese extreme right can call that period, peaceful.

Fact is: Japan try, and Japan failed at their colonization for greater Asia-co sphere.

And now, they are scared $hit because China is rising and may do the same thing to Japan like 100 years ago.



Dont worry little Japan, we will make it quick and painless. ^^

You need a history lesson but first you need re-read my message. And if you still don't get it, re-read it again. And if you still don't get it then let me lay it out for you nice and easy.

"Japan took Korea before anyone else could take it." Japan did not ignore Chinese influence, they fought a War so they could take Korea.

^ you made no sense and you made no point

It's good that you're atleast capable of reading and writing.

We hate Japan for the war crimes committed in Korea. We dont praise you. Your bastard murderes.
I hope someone would do the same to your mother and sister what Japanese soldiers did to Korean women.
Does it sound like a praise for you?

If colonization of Korea by Japan was right, than why this general was fired ?????
Why japanese government refuse to support this "historical perspective" ?????
Why can't japan boast publicly about such "benevolence" toward korea and other asian countries?????
Why Japan has to apologyse to other asian countries????
Why former japanese soldier keep coming to media to confess their war crimes ????
Why countries like USA, Australia and EU demand Japan to settle the comfort woman issue ?????
Why only morons and retarded like you wonda support such dementia????

You have just rethoric against fact, and the fact is that Japan was a criminal state at that time.

I'm sorry, but what is your meaning "not capable on the Global level"? That Korea wasn't an expansionist country back then?

It was a hermit kingdom and if countries around it left it alone, it would have remained so.

If you believe in taking over countries just because they don't have the means to expand globally, fine. I understand power projection is in the innate interests of any country.




LOL, Korea was a dangerous area? From who? Russia, who Japan trounced in the Russo-Japanese War? The Qing Dynasty?



Why so defensive? Who said anything about evil?

No doubt, the Japanese did do evil things in Korea, even during the peaceful times, and if anyone denies that they are being ignorant. But if some Japanese people feel justified in carrying out those actions, who are we to judge them?

And I do compare it to European colonization, because both were attempts at imperial expansion. Why so do you have to get so annoyed at that remark? As I said, all major powers were doing it back in the 1800s and earlyl 1900s, even the Americans, when they took over the Philippines, Cuba, Hawaii, etc... .



Actually, if you read the post of the person who started this thread, it talked about war as well. So it's not a separate issue. We aren't only talking about the colonies in times of peace.

Joseon, by modern day definition was a puppet kingdom under the control of the Qing Dynasty. Everything that occurred before 1895 was always under the supervision, advice and orders from the Qing dynasty. Joseon was not capable on any level by herself or with China's guidance.



As far back as 1608, Russia began expanding across Siberia.
As far back as 1858, Russia had gained part of Outer-Manchuria from China.
In 1876, a Prussian military advisor called Korea "a dagger pointed at the heart of Japan". As the threat of European Imperialism loomed.
As far back as 1884, Russia began trying to to put it's influence on Korea.
In 1900, Russia seized Manchuria and began it's annexation process.
In 1905, Japan kicked Russia's @$$ and pushed Russian influence out of Manchuria and removed it's influence from Korea.

So yes, Korea was a potentially dangerous area for Japan.



loool. I'm not "So defensive" or "So annoyed". Anyway, I questioned your comparison.

I believe this is what you wrote.


What does "something that the European powers didn't even do" imply exactly?



Isolated incidents does not prove your point.


Whitey's original post doesn't speak about war crimes. You fail.

I'm not really against the idea of Japanese colonialism. I think every strong power has some right to assert itself.

The problem is Japan chose very proud Koreans and Chinese as their targets, and ended with very destructive behaviors. Japan should have gone for Philipines, Indonesia, and Australia, and used more gentle methods to get cooperation from fellow east asians.

Japanese nationalist are pretty stupid... Trying to justified past wrong doings, will only bring you more enemies.

And CS6 did bring a very good and very realistic point, Japan picked the wrong target. Japan trying to Invade China, is like Germany trying to invade the Soviet. The target was too big to swallow.

Their arrogance was the downfall of their so called "empire".

Their arrogance also caused US to drop two bombs on japan.

If Japan does not want to apologize for their war crimes, fine, but I think they should stop provoking Asian countries with excuses and lies. Every time they do that they are just spitting on their own face.
If they have nothing good to say about their past, than silence is their better choice.

we only ask japanese to say what is in their heart, no more no less
peace in our lifetimes