Fess up Japanese Government!
Come on Japanese government, do the right thing, fess up to the crimes against women forced into sex slavery in WWII.
Amazing at the level of denial going on by the Japanese government over past crimes. If you have Japanese citizenship, let your government have it until it fesses up!
Interestingly enough I was debating this topic just last night. I find it almost ironic that by trying to save face, in my opinion, you lose a significant amount of face.
Comment by Kelvin Nicholson — March 5, 2007 @ 1:11 am
Does this (circa 2001) count as an apology ?
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/pmletter.html
There is also the Kono statement (1993) as well. Or does every Japanese Prime Minister have to issue an annual apology on behalf of the Japanese government ?
It is annoying to see topics like this shouted about without any context or clarifying detail. Is the Prime Minister refusing to apologise or “apologise again” ? Is this about “apology” or “compensation”? How can this be a denial if he explicitly says he accepts the Kono statement?
It’s also disappointing that the Guardian does not attempt to explain why the Japanese Diet cannot accept an official statement, like the proposed Congressional resolution, that tars the entire Imperial Armed Forces (and implicitly or explicitly the Emperor) with the same brush.
So much more to say, so little time.
Comment by AMan APart — March 5, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Thanks for the URL. This is great to see and thanks for making me aware of this. Yes, issues are more complex than portrayed in the media.
Comment by jon — March 5, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
It’s true — there is so much more to say…
Japanese textbooks and the Rape of Nanking also come to mind:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_history_textbooks_controversy
http://www.indiana.edu/~japan/Digests/textbook.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre
Kevin
Comment by Kevin — March 6, 2007 @ 4:39 pm