List of war apology statements issued by Japan

This is a list of war apology statements issued by the state of Japan with regard to the war crimes and atrocities committed by the Empire of Japan during World War II. The statements were made on and after the end of World War II in Asia, from the 1950s to the 2010s. There is an ongoing controversy regarding the way these statements are categorized, that being the question whether they are formal apologies or general statements of remorse, each of which carry a different level of responsibility and recognition.

Background

At the end of the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Imperial Japanese government accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. In 1945, the unconditional surrender of the Empire of Japan was formally confirmed aboard the Allied battleship, USS Missouri (BB-63). Once the formal documents were signed, General Douglas MacArthur, representing the Allies, was named the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan.[1]

Emperor Hirohito let it be known to General MacArthur that he was prepared to apologize formally to General MacArthur for Japan's actions during World War II—including an apology for the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.[2]

Apology rebuffed

In one version of the formal apology, Emperor Hirohito, the Japanese monarch, is reported to have said to General MacArthur: "I come before you to offer myself to the judgment of the powers you represent, as one to bear sole responsibility for every political and military decision made and action taken by my people in the conduct of the war."[3]

In a second version of the formal apology, Patrick Lennox Tierney, claims that he was an eye-witness when the Emperor came to the Allied Supreme Commander's headquarters to present this apology. Tierney was in his office on the fifth floor of the Dai-Ichi Insurance Building in Tokyo. This was the same floor where MacArthur's suite was situated.[2] Tierney reported that when the emperor arrived, MacArthur refused to admit him or acknowledge him, and the pivotal moment passed.

Many years later, Tierney made an effort to explain his understanding of the significance of what he claimed he had personally witnessed: "Apology is a very important thing in Japan. [...] It was the rudest, crudest, most uncalled for thing I have ever witnessed in my life."[2] Whether true or not - issues which might have been addressed were allowed to remain open, and unanticipated consequences have unfolded across the decades since then.[4][5]

History

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

Comments clarifying past apologies

Controversy

Demands for an apology and compensation have been a recurring topic in Korean, Taiwanese, and Chinese politics. Western nations are also demanding long overdue actions from the Japanese government, most notably through the United States House of Representatives House Resolution 121 voted in 2007. Criticisms regarding the degree and formality of apology, issued as a statement or delivered person-to-person to the country addressed, and the perception by some that some apologies are later retracted or contradicted by statements or actions of Japan, among others.

In October 2006, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's apology was followed on the same day by a group of 80 Japanese lawmakers' visit to the Yasukuni Shrine which enshrines more than 1,000 convicted war criminals.[56] Two years after the apology, Shinzo Abe also denied that the Imperial Japanese military had forced comfort women into sexual slavery during World War II .[57] In addition, Prime Minister Abe claimed that the Class A war criminals "are not war criminals under the laws of Japan".[58] He also cast doubt on Murayama apology by saying, "The Abe Cabinet is not necessarily keeping to it" and by questioning the definition used in the apology by saying, "There is no definitive answer either in academia or in the international community on what constitutes aggression. Things that happen between countries appear different depending on which side you're looking from."[59]

In 2010, one comfort woman from Taiwan stated, "It’s unacceptable that the Japanese government still refuses to apologize for what it did." Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou also declared, "It is the responsibility of the Japanese government to admit its mistakes and apologize... The battle is not over yet and it is regretful that the Japanese government still refuses to face its mistakes."[60]

As of 2010, 24% of South Koreans still feel that Japan has never apologized for its colonial rule, while another 58% believe Japan has not apologized sufficiently.[61]

Some in the Japanese government have expressed exasperation at what level of apology is enough. During an impending visit in 1990 to Japan by South Korean president Roh Tae Woo Japanese cabinet secretary Ozawa Ichiro reportedly said, "it is because we have reflected on the past that we cooperate with [South] Korea economically. Is it really necessary to grovel on our hands and knees and prostrate ourselves any more than we already have?"

At the end of 2015, in response to the joint announcement by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se to “finally and irreversibly” resolve the “comfort women” issue, some of the 46 remaining survivors expressed their discontent over the agreement. “It seems neither government cares about the victims. I don't count what they have agreed today. What we want is not monetary compensation but a legal one. We don’t want money. Those who commit crimes must take official, legal responsibility. I will fight until the day I die,” said survivor Lee Yong-soo. However, survivor Yu Hee-nam said, “I know the government has made efforts to resolve the issue within this year, so I’ll follow their decision.”[62]

Forms of apology

Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues also rebuffed the use of a word Owabi, not Shazai, in those Japanese apologies. The coalition said, "the expression owabi in Japanese in most cases means a sense of apology only slightly weightier than an Excuse me."[63]

In a paper published by Jeffrey Mok and Mitsuhiro Tokunaga, this is attributed to a mistranslation and misunderstanding of the word Owabi. "The use of owabi was clearly appropriate in its formality and degree of imposition. Both the authoritative dictionaries from Beijing Waiguoyu Xuexiao Japanese-Chinese Dictionary and Iwanami Japanese-Chinese Dictionary categorized owabi as a formal and weighty apologetic word. It was also commonly used as an official and formal way of apology and carried the same degree of regret as other formal forms of apologetic words such as shazai, shinsha and chinsha. It was also noted that shazai use was limited to print and was rare. Both owabi and chinsha (陳謝)were commonly used as official and formal apologetic expression and neither was considered weaker than the other." [64]

The coalition also criticized the Japanese government for denying any legal responsibility over such crimes as forced comfort women and refusing to compensate the survivors directly.

Japanese government and Prime Ministers have used the expression "kokoro kara no owabi" that most closely translates to "from our heart, most sincere apologies" about this issue.[65][66][67][68][69]

See also

Notes

  1. "Instrument of Surrender". U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. September 2, 1945.
  2. 1 2 3 LaPlante, Matthew D. (December 7, 2006). "MacArthur aide: U.S. must learn from errors". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  3. "Honesty, not apology". The Economist 328 (7825): 17. August 21, 1993. Gale Document Number: A14258166.
  4. Lind, Jennifer (May–June 2009). "The Perils of Apology: What Japan Shouldn't Learn from Germany". Foreign Affairs.
  5. Doi, Ayako (September–October 2009). "Letter to the editor: 'It's Never too Late to Say You're Sorry'". Foreign Affairs.
  6. Fujita Yukihisa. "Prime Minister Kishi's Diplomacy of Reconciliation," Japan Echo. August 2006.
  7. "The Traveler". Time 70 (25): 30. December 16, 1957. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  8. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA): "Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China," September 29, 1972.
  9. Tahara, Soichiro (田原総一朗) (2000). 日本の戦争 [Nihon no Senso] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakkan. p. 161. ISBN 9784093892414.
  10. "Ritual of Reconciliation". Time 124 (12): 64. September 17, 1984.
  11. The Economist, September 15, 1984
  12. Takagi, Kenichi. "Rethinking Japan's Postwar Compensation: Voices of Victims". Translated by Makiko Nakano. Archived from the original on September 4, 2004.
  13. 宮中晩餐会での今上天皇の盧泰愚大統領歓迎の勅語 [Transcript of emperor's remarks to President Roh Tae Woo during banquet at Imperial Palace] (in Japanese). Nakano Bukno (Nakano Library).
  14. Kaifu, Toshiki (May 25, 1990). "Summit meeting with President Roh Tae Woo". Japan and the World database. Tokyo: Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo. pp. 326–328. 大韓民国大統領盧泰愚閣下ご夫妻歓迎晩餐会での海部内閣総理大臣の挨拶。海部演説集
  15. Miyazawa, Kiichi. "Speech at dinner with President Roh Tae Woo". The World and Japan Database Project. Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo. pp. 89–91. 大韓民国大統領盧泰愚閣下ご夫妻主催晩餐会での宮澤内閣総理大臣のスピーチ. 宮澤演説集
  16. "Policy speech at the occasion of the visit to South Korea". The World and Japan Database Project. Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo. pp. 383–388. 宮澤喜一内閣総理大臣の大韓民国訪問における政策演説(アジアのなか、世界のなかの日韓関係). 外交青書36号,
  17. MOFA: "Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato on the Issue of the so-called 'Wartime Comfort Women' from the Korean Peninsula," July 6, 1992.
  18. MOFA: "Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on the result of the study on the issue of 'Ccomfort Women'," August 4, 1993.
  19. Strom, Margot S. Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior (PDF). p. 488. ISBN 978-0-9615841-4-6.
  20. Hosokawa, Morihiro. "Speech at 127th National Diet Session". The World and Japan Database Project. Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo. 第127回国会(特別会)細川護熙内閣総理大臣 所信表明演説.
  21. 第128回国会 [128th National Diet Session]. 国会会議録検索システム (National Diet Conference Minutes Search system) (in Japanese).
  22. MOFA: "Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the 'Peace, Friendship, and Exchange Initiative," August 31, 1994.
  23. MOFA: "Prime Minister's Address to the Diet: 'Resolution to Renew the Determination for Peace on the Basis of Lessons Learned from History'," June 9, 1995.
  24. MOFA: "Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the occasion of the establishment of the 'Asian Women's Fund'," July 1995.
  25. MOFA: "Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama 'On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end'," August 15, 1995.
  26. Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet (PM/Kantei): 日韓共同記者会見(橋本総理大臣・金泳三大統領共同記者会見, June 23, 1996.
  27. 宮中晩餐会での今上天皇の金大中大統領歓迎の勅語 [Court banquet speech welcoming South Korea President Kim Dae] (in Japanese). Nakano Library. October 8, 1996.
  28. MOFA: "Press Conference by the Press Secretary, Statement by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on World War II Prisoners of War," January 13, 1998.
  29. MOFA: "Press Conference by the Press Secretary, Apology to Prisoners of War," January 16, 1998.
  30. MOFA: "The Contents of the Letter of the then-Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto Sent to the Netherlands Prime Minister Willem Kok," July 15, 1998.
  31. MOFA: "Japan-Republic of Korea Joint Declaration, A New Japan-Republic of Korea Partnership towards the Twenty-first Century," October 8, 1998.
  32. MOFA: "Japan-China Joint Declaration On Building a Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation for Peace and Development," November 26, 1998.
  33. MOFA: Itaru Umezu. "Japan Has Faced Its Past," Far Eastern Economic Review. August 10, 2000.
  34. MOFA: "Address by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yōhei Kōno During His Visit to the People's Republic of China Seeking a True Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation," August 30, 2000.
  35. MOFA: "Comments by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Yasuo Fukuda on the history textbooks to be used in junior high schools from 2002," April 3, 2001.
  36. MOFA: "Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka at the Ceremony in Commemoration of 50th anniversary of the Signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty," September 8, 2001.
  37. PM/Kantei: "Prime Minister Koizumi Presents Flowers at the Commemorative Monument in Sodaemun Independence Park," October 15, 2001.
  38. MOFA: "Letter from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the former comfort women," 2001.
  39. MOFA: "Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration," September 17, 2002.
  40. PM/Kantei: "Address by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the 58th Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead," August 15, 2003.
  41. PM/Kantei: "Speech by H.E. Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan," April 22, 2005.
  42. PM/Kantei: "Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, On the 60th Anniversary of the End of the War," August 15, 2005
  43. Fastenberg, Dan (June 17, 2010). "Top 10 National Apologies: Japanese Sex Slavery". Time. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  44. Nakamae, Hiroshi. "Japan Apologizes To American POWs Who Suffered In Bataan Death March," Nikkei Weekly Online. May 10, 2009.
  45. Kim, Sue-young (February 11, 2010). "Japanese FM Offers Apology for Colonial Rule". The Korea Times.
  46. "Japan apologizes again for colonizing Korea". Hangul CNN News. August 10, 2010. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012.
  47. "Japan apologizes to WWII POW group from U.S.". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 13, 2010. Archived from the original on September 16, 2010.
  48. "Editorial: Is Japan's Apology a New Beginning?". Chosun.com (English edition). The Chosun Ilbo. August 11, 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  49. "Japan apologises to Australian Prisoners of War". News.com.au. News Limited. Australian Associated Press. March 4, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  50. "Japan apologizes to Canadian prisoners of war". CTV News. The Canadian Press. December 8, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  51. Diola, Camille (April 9, 2014). "Japan ambassador apologizes for WWII atrocities". Philippine Star. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  52. Dorrell, Oren (April 29, 2015). "Japanese prime minister stands by apologies for Japan's WWII abuses". USA Today. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
    "Japanese Prime Minister Offers 'Deep Repentance' for WWII, But Doesn't Apologize". Newsweek. Reuters. April 29, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
    Spetalnicki, Matt; Nomiyama, Chizu (April 29, 2015). "Abe voices 'repentance' on WW2, touts Japan's new security role". Reuters. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
    "Abe voices ‘repentance’ over WWII, pitches TPP in historic address to Congress". Japan Times. April 30, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
    "Japan PM Abe offers 'deep repentance' over war with US". BBC. April 29, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  53. Staff, WSJ (April 29, 2015). "Full Text: Japan-South Korea Statement on ‘Comfort Women’". The Wall Street Journal Japan. Retrieved Dec 29, 2015.
  54. MOFA: "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Conference on Visit of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to the People's Republic of China," September 6, 1997.
  55. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201310190044
  56. "I'm Sorry". The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (PBS). December 1, 1998.
  57. Tabuchi, Hiroko (March 1, 2007). %5b%5bCategory:Articles with inconsistent citation formats%5d%5d "Japan's Abe: No Proof of WWII Sex Slaves" Check |url= value (help). Washington Post. Associated Press.
  58. Hong, Cai (April 11, 2013). "Abe statement on history up in the air". China Daily.
  59. "Editorial: Abe's questionable interpretation of history endangers diplomatic relations". Mainichi Shimbun. April 26, 2013.
  60. "‘Comfort Women’ still fighting". Taipei Times. February 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  61. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  62. Kim, Se-jeong (December 29, 2015). "Victims unsatisfied with agreement". The Korea Times. Retrieved Dec 29, 2015.
  63. "FAQ on Comfort Women issues". Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues.
  64. Mok, Jeffrey, Tokunaga, Mitsuhiro. "Comparing the Translations of Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi's Official Apology in April 2005".
  65. 慰安婦問題に対する日本政府のこれまでの施策 (in Japanese). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). April 2007.
  66. "Recent Policy of the Government Of Japan on the Issue Known As 'Comfort Women'". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). April 2007.
  67. "Letter from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the former comfort women". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). 2001.
  68. "The contents of the letter of the then Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto sent to the Netherlands Prime Minister Willem Kok- July 15, 1998". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan).
  69. "Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the occasion of the establishment of the 'Asian Women's Fund'". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). July 1995.

References

External links

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