From: masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: An open letter to the Emperor Akihito of Japan
Date: 20 Aug 92 22:48:44 GMT
Organization: Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center

In article <92230.210311TOGE@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> TOGE@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU (Nobukazu Toge) writes:
.....
>Whatever the item may be, the oh-so-typical-persistent pattern is -
>
>(1) At least the government-to-government relashionship-wise it's
>    said that the victim country decides not to demand compensations
>    [this is the case for ROK and PRC, not sure about others.]
>(2) Japanese government decides, hence, that the case closed,
>(3) Victim country citizens never happy, erupting their anger
>    periodically,
>(4) Japanese government continues issuing a token "regret" word,
>(5) Victim country citizen even more infuriated, since the words
>    don't sound sincere.
>(6) Go do (3).

   A good analysis from an objective point of view!

>This has got to stop. The Japanese (in particular the gov'ment) have to
>reveal WHAT REALLY IT WAS.  Whether one wants to apologize when and how
>or not would naturally follow after that.

   I agree.

   When Japan was struggling for the industrial and economic recuperation,
the gonvernment may well have tried to conceal the ugliest part of Japanese
history which could have prevented Japan from regaining the integrity as
a nation and from being accepted by the international community (even 
though it was far from the ethically best policy to take).

   What made the problem more complicated was that the government has not 
only changed its attitude but also made it even worse after achieving
a certain level of industrial success and economic prosperity.
"Ishoku tarite reisetsu wo shiru" (Make much of courtesy and propriety
once you get sufficient food and clothing) was not the case.
   
   Now, Japan has an integrity stable enough to reveal her dark age
and to make her people realize what it was really like. Most young
generation might understand it as a story which is unrelated to themselves
and which they are not responsible for, and this may not lead to any 
"apology." However, knowing exactly what their country did only half
a century ago, they would learn appropriate attitude or view towards the 
neighboring countries and their people.

   One problem is that could hamper Japan's effort to disclose the history is 
unavailability or limited availability of domestic information. I assume 
that there has been intentional or unintentional losses of records regarding 
the atrocities. Probably, the best way to solve this problem is to assemble
a joint research group of Japanese and other Asian historians under a 
5-year (or so) project financially supported by the Japanese Ministry of 
Education and to have them perform a thorough and unbiased survey/analysis
of documents and information regarding WWII. Their final report should be
regarded as the official record for the participating countries. 

   What was done cannot be undone. We cannot erase the historic facts.
To reveal and admit the most embarrasing part of our history would not lower
ourselves. It is even an opportunity for us to show our morality, ethical 
standard and gentle(wo)manship to the people of Asia and of the world. 

   Have I motivated you enough, my government buddies?

Michiaki Masuda
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan