What’s Potsdam Declaration?

Careless gaffe made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cast a fundamental doubt to the public on his historical knowledge. In the discussion with the leader of Japan Communist Party, Kazuo Shii, at Question Time in the Diet, Abe revealed that he had not read through the details of Potsdam Declaration. The declaration was a crucial document about post-war conditions that Japan had to accept to end World War II. Critics accuse Abe of his irrelevancy as a historical revisionist, because he does not know what history he wants to revise.

In the discussion, Shii asked Abe of recognition on the historical event over accepting unconditional surrender. “Post-war Japan started with acceptance of Potsdam Declaration in 1945. The declaration determines that the war waged by Japan was wrong war. Don’t you approve that recognition?” asked Shii. Abe rejected to directly reply to him, saying “Since I have not read the part of the declaration, I would refrain from commenting on it.”

Right after the discussion, Abe’s answer was regarded as a political strategy not discussing an issue on the basis of his opponent’s presentation. But, Shii kept on accusing Abe of his lack of historical knowledge after the debate.

Shii questioned Abe’s qualification as Prime Minister of Japan, presenting Potsdam Declaration as the origin of post-war democracy of Japan. In his press conference the day after, Shii gave another shot, saying “Having confusion on historical events, Abe might really have not read the declaration.” Shii found an article of magazine in 2005, when Abe had been Secretary General of Liberal Democratic Party. “Potsdam Declaration was hurled to Japan by America, in an is-it-enough? way, after it gave Japan devastation by dropping two atomic bombs,” Shii quoted Abe’s comment in the article.

One can find a crucial contradiction in Abe’s comment. Yes, Potsdam Declaration was proposed to Japan before United States dropped atomic bombs. After embracing the declaration, government of Japan accepted law enforcement on A-Class war criminals through Tokyo War Tribunal and made clear distinction of post-war democracy from pre-war despotism.

As shown, Abe’s historical revisionism has a lot of contradictions. While his economic policy looks like reaching some achievements, the people would not pay attention to his strange views on history. Once his economic stalemate appears, his words will immediately lose power of magic.