国家と謝罪 : 日本の戦争責任とその謝罪の意味

概要

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Although almost 60 years have passed away since World War II, Japan has not accepted responsibility for what it did in the War: not enough apology and compensation for the damage it caused, especially to the individual victims. In terms of crimes committed by states and their apologies, there have been two notable incidents recently: one involving North Korea and the other the U.S.A. In both cases, Japan is concerned not only as the abused but also as the condemned. North Korea kidnapped some Japanese citizens and held them in North Korea against their wills and Chairman Kim apologized for that, while Prime Minister Koizumi apologized for Japan's past colonial rule over Korea. In the other incident, a U.S. Navy submarine, the USS Greeneville, sank a Japanese vessel, the Ehime Maru, killing 9 people inclusing 5 high school students. In response to the ferocious attacks of the Japanese mass media, a columnist of the Washington Post counter-criticized Japan for neglecting its responsibility for the war crimes. In addition to addressing international considerations, fullfilling its responsibility is necessary for Japan to improve its relationship with neighbor countries and to survive in the contemporary international community. Apologizing for past atrocities is necessary to bring real democracy and respect for human rights to Japan, which has failed to construct a nation state based on those priciples.
2002-12-25