When comes a very hot season, we remember August 15, 1945. Most of us have not experienced the WWII, but scenes of burnt-out fields due to air strikes and unprecedentedly desperate people probably inspire us with the war. It is 69 years after 1945. People of Japan certainly swore that the same error would not be repeated.


PEOPLE OF JAPAN MUST BE MORE PRUDENT


It is 69 years since Japan was defeated in the WWII. Today its legacy emerges as a perplexing problem. No effective people’s front against fascism was established in Japan, and therefore people for themselves could not end the WWII. Thus, ‘democratization’ and prosecution of war criminals were handled by the US occupation forces.


Asian Peoples Accumulate Distrust of Japan


The Peace Constitution was not imposed by external forces. Conscience of peoples of the entire world was integrated into the Constitution of Japan as they humbly reviewed the world war and fascism. Some insist here that Japan was compelled to accept the constitution, but that is blasphemy against the history.


We must not forget, however, a fact that the occupation forces had restrained people of Japan from owing responsibilities for the crimes committed by the Emperor and his followers against people inside the country and aggression against peoples of the Asia-Pacific region: the US occupation authority worked to reconstruct the Japanese regime in exchange of the constitution. Post-war efforts of Japan contrast with those of Germany that has recovered trust of peoples after prosecuting Nazi criminals in a radical manner and taking responsibilities for the war.


A peace treaty was ‘partial’ for Japan: she was not forced to take responsibilities for compensations of the war against the Asian peoples. In the Cold War era many Asian nations were obliged to follow the US hegemony, while distrust of Japan has been grown.


A lack of people’s subjective liberation movements in Japan has left another serious consequence; people of Japan discarded Okinawa. The US occupation authority acknowledged Article Nine of the Constitution. Their approval means, from the very beginning, to continue occupation and militarize the island. Conclusion of the peace treaty and bilateral Security Treaty with the United States reinforced the fact. Since then no change has been made in the structure.


Stop Violent Politics of Abe Administration!


Now, let’s look at today’s situation. The government has approved the right of collective self-defense. Immediately after the decision, mistrust has erupted among Asian peoples toward Japan. Prime Minister Abe presented an initiative to rescue Japanese citizens in the Korean Peninsula in contingency in the context to ‘defend the US vessels’. This idea has provoked stern fury in the Republic of Korea (ROK).


Usually July 1 has been celebrated as a Day of Self Defense Forces of Japan in Seoul, but this year a hotel of the anniversary event, The Lotte Hotel, cancelled the venue. People in Korea hate to see the Hinomaru military because they have been suffered by a series of policies taken by the Japanese governments, which include rejection of war-time reparation, the so-called comfort women and visits of the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese top politicians.


The so-called ‘advancement of China to the oceans’ may constitute its ‘deterrence’ against Japan, a country that behaves as it likes, disregarding others. Some Japanese commercial media report that China and ROK are as ‘anti-Japan’. This fact reflects disgrace of Japan that forgets everything easily and would not regret anything about the war during these 69 years.


August 15 of 2014 will come soon. We must sincerely accept deep-seated grudge of Asian peoples and residents of Okinawa. Premier Abe is a symbol of Japanese who do not remorse the past history. He runs violently. We must struggle against the government. Japanese people must not forget the war and history.


August 12, 2014