"Japan prime minister sent prayer note to war criminal ceremony" Associated Press August 29, 2014
TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent an appreciation note earlier this year to a ceremony honoring more than a thousand World War II-era war criminals, the government’s top spokesman said Wednesday.
Hey, look, my nation reveres my own so whose too criticize?
Abe sent the message to an annual ceremony held April 29 at the Koyasan Buddhist temple in central Japan in his capacity as head of the ruling party, not as prime minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.
‘‘I humbly express my deepest sympathy for the martyrs . . . who sacrificed their souls to become the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today,’’ Abe wrote in his note, a copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press through the ceremony organizers’ office.
Many Asian countries that suffered from Japanese militarism in the first half of the 20th century see honoring war criminals as a lack of remorse by Tokyo for wartime aggression.
This is not to excuse their savagery in any way, but they were greeted as liberators when they booted out the Europeans (who were being called home to fight hitler anyway). The problem became the Allies unwillingness to talk about any peace deals.
Let's face it, folks: everyone committed horrendous atrocities and war crimes during the "Good War."
The disclosure of Abe’s note could especially worsen Japan’s ties with China and South Korea, which have repeatedly criticized Abe’s views on wartime history, widely seen as revisionist.
I've come to find out the entire history taught and told to me was a lie.
Tokyo’s relations with Beijing and Seoul have been badly strained since Abe prayed in December at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 2.5 million war dead, including 14 ‘‘Class-A’’ war criminals.
That's weird because all this happened months ago and the region has really cooled down lately.
Who would want to try and get a war going in Asia, hmmm?
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Speaking of war crimes:
"Japanese court rules nuclear plant operator is liable for suicide" The Washington Post News Service August 27, 2014
TOKYO — A court in Fukushima has ruled that Tokyo Electric Power Co., the Japanese nuclear power plant operator, can be held responsible for the suicide of a woman who became depressed after the 2011 disaster.
The court ordered Tepco to pay $470,000 to Mikio Watanabe and his children after the 58-year-old wife and mother, Hamako, killed herself a few months after the nuclear meltdown that followed the earthquake and tsunami forced them out of their home and destroyed their livelihoods.
The ruling was the first time that the struggling utility had been found liable for a suicide resulting from the accident, and could galvanize others seeking redress against the company.
‘‘I think we received a meaningful ruling that’s consistent with our feelings,’’ Watanabe said after the ruling Tuesday. ‘‘The family’s suffering and pain are rewarded. When I return home, I’d like to report the result to Hamako’s portrait and tell her to have a good rest.’’
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Also see:
Popular Land Cruiser back in Japan
Japan lab unable to replicate stem cell results
Related: Rise of the Samurai
