Wonder what the spin doctors will have to say about this?

please do not get me wrong - in no way do I intent to attack Japan, quite the contrary. I believe that post-war Japan has continuously been, is, and will remain a much better place to live than countries such as e.g. South Korea, Mainland China etc. (and maybe even better than Germany, as well).

“And as you know, several PMs apologized for it.”

Yes, Ponta, I am aware of this fact.

The problem is, however, that each and every of these apologies has come over to the public as insincere and opportunistic, at least so it seemed to our Western perception. It is this constant “Yes, we have done that, but then again, we haven’t really” attitude of Japan’s which goes so much on everybody’s nerves. Can you modern Japanese not once clearly state “Yes, Imperial Japan was a rogue state and it has committed disgusting atrocities. Full stop.”? In the same vein in which the Germans have recognised the indisputable fact that their country has started two world wars without provocation or good cause and thus is the prime responsible for the loss of some 10 million lives in WWI and of around 55 million lives in WWII (and, in addition, murdered 6 million people in the concentration camps - the most awful crime ever committed in history).

The historical facts are crystal-clear regarding these issues - no ifs, no buts, no cop-outs. Even primary school students in this country are taught extensively about the awful truth. When I was in 1st grade in a regular German primary school as far back as 1971 the teacher dealt with the subject in detail over a period of several weeks. That, of course, was a harassing experience for us six-year olds, but it had to be done. And if I had children of my own I would make sure that they, too, were to be provided with the very same experience.

Maybe we Western people are incapable of understanding the Japanese attitude due to the cultural differences between East Asia and the West - and I am full well aware that the Koreans and Chinese apply the very same tactics when it comes to their own wrongdoings. In spite of the ostensible animosities between them, the three North-East Asian nations are actually quite similar in many respects.

But all of you are shooting yourselves in the foot as the issues will not come to rest and forgiveness will not be granted unless it is preceded by a straight-forward acceptance and admission of guilt…

Japan would have had the Comfort Women issue off the table for decades if she had freely admitted her unmitigated culpability, coupled with adequate compensation for the victims. But the fact remains that her guilt grows with every day she remains in denial…

“…nothing upsetting about the past of Japan,”

Surely, you’re joking, ponta.

How is it a “bit off topic”? Looking forward to your answer.

“Fuck Japan.”

I thought I’d be free of reading kiddie drivel while on summer vacation, but I’d forgotten about those stream-of-consciousness multiple posts at the Marmots.