WWII was a battle in which the “righteous Americans defeated the axis of evil that were Japan and Germany”. This has become the “common sense” view of history in the international community.

Certainly, Germany aimed to eradicate the Jewish people, and perpetrated the holocaust. This is undoubtedly the dark legacy of Germany. This was largely the horror of Hitler, but he was still able to become the chancellor by receiving the support of the nation at that time. We ought to accept the fact that such a dictator was born out of democracy, and we ought to analyze why that happened and learn from it.

However, 70 years have already passed. Even as there is a need to continue learning, the German people ought not to be burdened with guilt forever and a legacy of apology. It is time for the international community to “forgive” Germany.

Japan Fought for the Liberation of Asia and for Self-Defense

On the other hand, Japan fought to liberate Asian countries from Western colonialism that was based on racial prejudice. With that, Asian and African countries were able to realize independence, and their ideals have become a reality.

Moreover, Japan extended its power to the Korean Peninsula and to Manchuria in order to protect itself from the surge of Soviet communism. The Supreme Commander of the GHQ also realized this after the Korean War started, stating before the American Senate in 1951 that, “(the Japanese war) was done to protect itself”.
After the war, America entered the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and today China and Korea, who were influenced by the Soviets, have turned to communism and continue to expand their military. America having defeated Japan, who was trying to stop the spread of communism, let communism expand, and now they have to deal with the consequences themselves.

The “Guilt” that America Does Not Want to Confront

Furthermore, after the war, the biased “common sense” view that “the war happened because Japan was evil,” has spread, and the “Nanking Massacre” has attracted close attention. In this flow of events, we can get glimpses the “guilty” conscience that Americans do not want to confront.

In 1995, with the cancellation of the atomic bomb exhibition, a debate was begun in America concerning the rightness of the atomic bombings (see p. 49). “The Rape of Nanking” was published two years after this. The possibility that it was published to preserve the official perspective of the American government that says, “it was necessary to drop the atomic bombs on Japan who committed massacres,” cannot be denied.

America ought to accept its guilt and confront its historical perspective that supports its national interest.

What Japan Needs Is Not to Make More Apologies, but Leadership

Both Japan and Germany are prominent nations. Japan’s tradition that reaches back over 2,600 years, and Germany’s tradition since Prussia, have not all been lost through the few years of war and the 70 years of postwar education. Is it not proof that after the war both nations were able to develop economically – even after Japan made large post-war reparations – that their traditions have not died?

In the “The Okawa Statement–My Proposal–” (see below) that was released in the summer of 2013 by Master Ryuho Okawa, reveals how to correct historical views that demean Japan, and how Japan can contribute to world peace henceforth.

Japan and Germany ought to reclaim their national pride, and take initiatives as leading nations to contribute to world peace, especially at this time when America is stepping down as the “world police” in the international community.

Next year will be 70 years since the war ended. What Japan needs now is not to make more apologies, but to demonstrate leadership that will bring peace and prosperity to the Asian region.