Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevemcgarrett]

First, kudos to NAVFC for bringing this sore topic to our attention on this forum (please see his thread).

Now the pressing question is: Should Abe resign from his post as Japan's prime minister or should he and his new government be officially reprimanded otherwise by ASEAN?

Note: While I'm hardly one to cave in to politically correct public pressure, shouldn't leaders be held accountable for egregiously offending other nations, particularly since these comments did not come in the midst of political squabbling, uttered off-the-cuff, off-the-record, or off mic but instead delivered in a deliberately arranged public platform with the intent to provoke the ire of others? (The same holds for the Iranian president's threats against Israel but there's no political recourse in that Islamofascist republic).

[Kuros]

Here is the original link NAVFC provided:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10625961/

Imagine the Japanese reaction if Bush asserted: "There is no evidence that America forcefully detained Japanese-Americans during WWII using coercion. We have to take it from there."

Shinzo Abe is a disgrace. 강박하기를 있었잖아!

[stevemcgarrett]

Kuros:

Yes, indeed he is and so are his government advisors and cabinet members who support him in this matter.

Unlike the German governments, the Japanese governments have never made a sincere effort to come to terms with their wartime atrocities. Moreover, they are motivated as much by greed, trying to avoid compensation to the thousands of comfort women still alive.

It's despicable, really, but not surprising in a country where the Yakuza is glorified and the Rising Sun flag has been resurrected, among other things.

[jinju]

the hilarious thing is thar some of those assmonkeys in his gov say that the apology to the sex slaves should be repealed for Japan's honor. To me the fact that they are denying it shows me they have no honor.

[stevemcgarrett]

jinju:

Yeah, I hear ya. Must be that newfangled bushido code of the ultranationalists coming into play. Koizumi is probably smirking over this one, and saying, "Ah so, that Abe has some b-alls."

In Honolulu, which I now call home, millions of Japanese visit Pearl Harbor every year. Thrice I've been on the Navy boat that takes you to the Arizona Memorial with Japanese tourists. So many are so clueless about what really went down there it makes you wonder if they're deluding themselves or if they've really been duped by a succession of governments.

But every August 6th you can bet your sweet as-s that Hiroshima will be a topic of much indignation in certain Japanese circles, as if the bombing came out of nowhere. (And never mind that tens of thousands more were killed in the Tokyo-Yokohama incendiary bombings in the year preceding it.)

[chris_J2]

The cultural factor of East Asian ethics also plays a part in the failure of Japan to ackowledge both its past war crimes, & the current Abe Government refusing to admit past transgressions by Japan.

There is deep shame involved of admitting any wrongdoing, & a perception that it is a betrayal of Japanese values & society; & the easy way out it just outright denial to "save face".

Interesting article here:

http://socialwelfare.berkeley.edu/academic/syllabi/spring06/250m/reading14.pdf

I recall a tv interview in the 1980's, with a Japanese soldier asked why Japan treated Australian p.o.w.'s so badly, & his initial response was a bowed head in shame, & a very long period of silence. The longer the silence, the greater the shame.

[jinju]

See, I dont think they feel shame. Not this bunch of radical nationalists. I just think they find it a matter of pride not to admit their crimes.

[chris_J2]

Which is why there needs to be a complete overhaul of education in Japanese schools. Pity the Americans didn't insist on it, from day one in 1945. Many young Japanese have little idea why Hiroshima & Nagasaki transpired. They are taught the US reaction, but not the Japanese transgression. (Pearl Harbor, Comfort Women, Imperial Expansion etc).

[stevemcgarrett]

jinju:

[Ilsanman]

You bunch of dumb-asses.

http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=525#comments

Comment #32.

There was an apology, money paid, but Korea broke their promise. What a surprise!!!

I guess Korea wants ANOTHER apology. MORE money, and MORE SHAME for Japan, in yet another dead issue.

I am glad Abe has balls, though I know its not good for his career. Someone had to stand up and say, enough is enough, Korea is stealing their money, they stole their land, Russia stole their land too. Everyone is hacking on Japan, no wonder they're going through another nationalism stage.

This issue is dead, dead, dead.

[Guri Guy]

http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=525#comments

I think the discussion there is a little more productive than this bandwagon bash Japan fest. Has anyone ever considered that maybe there is more than one side to the story? Perhaps the Korean version strays from the truth?

Korea as a nation acts like a bully. The more Japan apologizes, the more Korea takes advantage. (ala the 300 billion yen stolen from the Japanese as mentioned previously) It is about time Japan stood up to this BS. Korea only respects countries that tell Korea to F-off like China. Japan needs to be more assertive on the issues of comfort women and Dokdo. When the truth comes out, the shock to the Korean psyche will be 1000X worse than the Dr. Hwang fiasco. Oh what a tangled web we weave....

Flame away. I don't care.

[chris_J2]

Ilsanman & Guriguy

It wasn't just Korean women. There are also women from Australia (which has never sought financial favours from Japan in connection with wartime atrocities, as per your links), China, Holland, Philippines etc etc.

"Abe ignores evidence", say Australia's 'comfort women': Stephen Moynihan. March 3, 2007

Japan PM denies WWII sex slavery

THE association representing "comfort women" living in Australia has launched an attack on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Co-ordinator Anna Song told The Age that Mr Abe's comments were surprising.

"Mr Abe is not only denying his own government's previous statements, but also ignoring the evidence researched by UN bodies and international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International," she said.

Last month Australian Jan O'Herne (above right) travelled to Washington to tell her story before a US Congressional hearing.

In 1944, when Mrs O'Herne was 21 and interned in Java with her family, she and nine other young women were taken to a house used as a brothel by the Japanese military. For the next three months, they were raped repeatedly.

Next week, Friends of Comfort Women in Australia will rally at the Japanese consulate in Sydney. Mrs O'Herne and two other women will tell their stories.

"If the Prime Minister and the members of his Government have yet to hear the evidence, we sincerely invite them to listen to the testimonials of three comfort women survivors from Australia, Taiwan and Korea," Ms Song said.

"We believe the Japanese Government is capable of seeing the facts in its history and, as a result, providing a sincere and official apology to the survivors."

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/abe-ignores-evidence-say-australias-comfort-women/2007/03/02/1172338881441.html

[Kuros]

[jinju]

[gang ah jee]