Independence Day of Japan

It is no wonder that a nation annually celebrates its day of independence. July 4^th is the independence day of the United States, celebrating its declaration of independence from Britain in 1776. South Korea celebrate its independence from Japan on August 15^th, the day the emperor of Japan announced its surrender to the United Nations of the World War II in 1945. The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, revealed on Thursday his intention to hold a ceremony of the independence day of Japan on April 28^th. What does this sudden announcement mean?

April 28^th is the day when the peace treaty between Japan and the United Nations of the World War II, or San Francisco Peace Treaty, took effect in 1952. After the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration in 1945, Japan had actually been occupied by the General Headquarters of the United Nations, actually led by US military. “I want to let the will of the nation obvious to explore our future by reconfirming the independence on April 28^th,” told Abe in the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives.

In the committee, Abe stressed the significance of commemorating the day, saying “We have growing people who don’t know that long seven-year period of occupation, when Japan had been losing its sovereignty.” Although he did not make clear what was the matter with him to see those innocent people, it is fair to say that the true meaning of setting the independence day is to remind of the nation that the Constitution of Japan was established before the independence day and under the occupation. Abe has been denying current constitution as forced by the occupation regime.

It is not clear whether the nation will be united to celebrate the day. The Liberal Democratic Party has been discussing the setting of the independence day, and it was a campaign promise in the general election of last December. Abe intends to make the day as national holiday. On the other hand, people in Okinawa resist setting the day, because it is “the humiliation day” for them. With acceptance of the San Francisco Treaty, the occupation force was allowed to stay in Okinawa as a deal with the ending of occupation in mainland Japan.

This action shows one of the evidence that Abe is taking nationalist policies. Insisting on reviewing post-war history, Abe is recognized by other nations, including US, as a revisionist. But the situation of Japan would be that many people are going to support to cerebrate the independence, not only because they are satisfied with his handlings of economy, but also because they are happy to add a holiday to the Golden Week in late April and early May.