Revisionism Revisited

Highly reluctant to apologize past aggression of Imperial Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that his statement on August 15th at the seventieth anniversary from the end of Pacific War would be something different from Murayama Statement in 1995, in which Japan apologized to the world, namely Asian Nations. Depending on what kind of change he will add to past statements, Japan’s neighbor countries may be more frustrated with Abe administration than in the time he visited Yasukuni Shrine at the end of 2013.

Abe stepped up his attitude to new level. “I already said that I would succeed past statements in general,” told Abe in a discussion TV program on Sunday morning. Based on that recognition, he revealed his intention to deliver new statement not ina perspective of whether he should use the same old wordings, but of how Abe Cabinet would think about it. “If I follow the past styles as basis of the statement, there will be trivial argument on not using past words or inserting new words. I would like to deliver seventieth anniversary statement as seventy anniversary statement,” said Abe.

The controversial phrases in Murayama Statement are two sentences: “During a certain period in the not too distant past, Japan, following a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war, only to ensnare the Japanese people in a fateful crisis, and, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. In the hope that no such mistake be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology.” Abe and his right-wing colleagues especially do not like the expressions of “through its colonial rule and aggression” and “heartfelt apology.”

In the same program, President of Democratic Party of Japan, Katsuya Okada, fiercely criticized Abe’s attitude on the statement. “I can not tolerate Prime Minister telling colonial rule and aggression trivial. Admitting past, succeeding what Japan did in post-war seventy years and forward looking are needed in the statement,” Okada stressed. President of Innovation Party, Kenji Eda, also offended, saying that changing keyword without succession would send wrong message. Chairman of Executive Committee, Kazuo Shii, joined the circle of denouncing the Premier. Even the President of Komeito, coalition partner of Liberal Democratic Party, warned Abe by noticing “extreme importance” of the keywords”

China immediately responded to Abe. Asahi Shimbun quoted a report of Xinhua News Agency, which said “This expression of attitude brought criticisms and questions from leaders of major political parties.” If Abe steps into new stage of struggle over history interpretation, United Statesmay again be taking distance from Abe administration. After “disappointment” of Obama administration on visiting Yasukuni Shrine late December, 2012, Abe showed honest attitude about the impact his personal belief would bring. But, once reminding of his supporter’s demand to be on the right side, he easily misses serious advices from foreign nations. As its consequence, diplomacy of Japan always swings.