World War II in the far east saw  deaths on a scale that rarely receives a mention in Europe.
For example 4 million Chinese military and 18 million Chinese civillians died and there were also 2 million  deaths of Indian civillians.
Deaths amongst European, white commonwealth and US personnel in this theatre of war were, by comparison, low but the horrific treatment of those taken prisoner of war by the Japanese is well documented and this included 50,00 British p.o.w..

Japan, unlike Germany, has been notoriously reticent properly to recognise its war crimes especially deaths resulting from the torture, abuse and slave-labour  imposed upon so many. Where there have been apologies they tend to have been somewhat half hearted. For example in 2006 the Japanese prime-minister commented,”There is no definitive answer either in academia or in the international community on what constitutes aggression. Things that happen between countries appear different depending on which side you’re looking from.” Not exactly a statement suggesting full recognition of what happened!.

This week Prime Minister Shinzo Abe  issued a 70th-anniversary statement that continued to send a mixed message about genuine remorse . Mr. Abe said  that Japan “has repeatedly expressed feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology” over the war.  “Upon the innocent people did our country inflict immeasurable damage and suffering.”In the same breath he complained of a masochistic view of his country’s war history, and suggested Japan had done enough apologizing. So – doubts about the genuiness of the use of the word  heartfelt here as well!

Japanese Emperor Akihito marked the 70th anniversary of VJ day with an expression of “deep remorse” over the conflict: a departure from his annual script which could be seen as a subtle rebuke of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Of course it is right that Japan’s  younger generation  should not be held responsible for “the sins of the fathers.”

Today (Saturday 15th August) there was a small gathering at the War memorial in Bloxham to reconise VJ day and recall the day when p.o.w.survivors were able to commence their path back to normality.
I wonder if anyone has learned anything?

You can read more world views on this conflict in a recent Reuter article here.