Japan Apologizes For War Conquests

[David]

AP


Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologized for Tokyo's wartime colonization and invasions in Asia on the 60th anniversary of the country's surrender on Monday, pledging that Japan would never forget the ?terrible lessons? of the war.

Koizumi, in a written statement marking his second apology for the war to Asian neighbors this year, expressed his ?deep reflections and heartfelt? sorrow for the damages caused by Japan during its conquests in the region in World War II.

The statement, however, mirrored the apology issued in 1995 on the 50th anniversary of the war's end by then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama. That statement was criticized as insufficient by critics in Asia who say Japan has not atoned enough for the war.

Koizumi's apology also came amid intense speculation over whether he would visit the Yasukuni war shrine on Monday. The shrine honors Japan's war dead, including executed war criminals, and China and South Korea have criticized Koizumi's previous four visits.

?Our country has caused great damages and pain to people in many countries, especially our Asian neighbors, through colonization and invasion,? said Koizumi's statement, which was handed out to reporters at a daily morning briefing.

?We humbly accept these historic facts, and would like to express once again our deep reflections and heartfelt apology, and also express our condolences to all victims of the war, both at home and abroad,? Koizumi continued.

?We will not forget the terrible lessons of the war, and will contribute to world peace and prosperity,? the statement said.

Koizumi made a similar apology for the war at an Asian summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, in April, in hopes of quelling anti-Japanese protests in China triggered by Tokyo's approval of history textbooks that critics say whitewashed Japanese wartime atrocities.

While Koizumi made his apology, thousands of Japanese thronged the grounds of Yasukuni to pay their respects to the country's fallen soldiers. The shrine contains lists of 2.4 million fighters who died in wars starting in the late 1800s.





Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

[SparrowHawk62]

A little late isn't he?

[Boats]

I'm surprise Bush hasn't apologized for dropping the bombs?

[melody1181]

Maybe to show they are really sorry they should teach their children about there own war crimes.

They also shouldn't have shrines for war criminals.

[reconeil]

You must be joking (?),...even though lately it seems that Bush must apologize for most everything bad happening for the last 50 years, and even for trying to protect America from terrorists.

Regardless, I honestly believe that if only one American Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman Life was saved due the dropping of A-Bombs on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki and/or homeland of the fanatically murderous Imperial Jap Butchers of that time,...such was perfectly alright, quite appropriate, and MOST DEFINITELY NEEDED DOING.

Too bad didn't have enough produced to drop on Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Tarua, Saipan, Taipan, Pelalu and other Jap Conquered Islands. Many thousands of American Boys would no doubt have made it past their 17, 18 or 19th Birthdays.

Anyone wanting a second opinion, then just ask any survivors of: "The Death March of Bataan" or: "The Rape of Nanking" perpetrated by The Japanese Murderers,...their thoughts about such. Would be quite enlightening.

Neil

[SuperScout]

Apology? Methinks the only apology to be extended is for not having dropped the A-bomb (s) sooner.

[BLUEHAWK]

Originally posted by David

While Koizumi made his apology, thousands of Japanese thronged the grounds of Yasukuni to pay their respects to the country's fallen soldiers. The shrine contains lists of 2.4 million fighters who died in wars starting in the late 1800s.

I am glad that the Prime Minister made the carefully-worded apology.

It is a humbling experience to admit such things, as most civilized governments, including our own, have to do from time to time... usually far too late.

2,400,000 Japanese military listed at the Yasukuni shrine since the late 1800s; not ALL of them were "war criminals"...

What I perceive is that governments send fighters to enforce or to carry out political policies. The result is always the same in terms of suffering on all sides, no matter whose government or fighters are involved. The best one can hope for is that the sadists who are always part of any open warfare are in the minority, that the cause will have been just, and that those who did their duty will be honored forever.

The primary crime of war is war itself.

[Jerry D]

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was born in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on January 8, 1942 so the only thing he personally saw of WW2 was the aftermath and the reconstruction of his Country with US Aide. I personally feel that Current Presidents and Prime Ministers apologizing for actions they themselves had NO control over is a waste of an apology i.e. when Clinton went to West Africa and made a Big apology for the institution of Slavery which has been Illegal in the US for over 140 years but is still practiced in Eastern Africa today. That is a good example of an apology without any meaning. If Crown Prince Naruhito would make the Same apology his words would have merit since he is the Heir of the Emperor ,of Japan,that was in charge during WW2.