Preface: Crime and Responsibility


Upon encountering claims made by other Asians, Japanese often say it is a matter of the past and so is for them irrelevant. Others make humble apologies to these Asians as though they were the direct assailants. I do neither.

Those who tortured, raped and killed Asians during the war are guilty -- of war crimes. These crimes are, however, of a personal nature and not necessarily passed on to their offspring. Those who were mare kids, or even yet to be born, in that period are thus free from such guilt.

Given that it was the Japanese military, state and society that inflicted damages upon Asians, however, the responsibility for the recovery of these damages, i.e., postwar responsibility, should be borne by the whole nation. Even if damaged were caused by illegal actions of individual soldiers, the military responsibility arising from these actions still lies with the state and society. In this sense, postwar compensation must become a major priority for Japanese society to carry out.

Germans also clearly separate crime and responsibility. In Germany, however, trying after the war to justify the past and neglect redress for damages, is often referred to as the "second crime" (die Zweite Schuld). Neglect of those Asians who still suffer from damages caused by the war can be so classified. The only way for Japanese to be absolved of this "second crime" is to honor their responsibility.

There is some opposition to postwar compensation, with its basis in the reasoning of the state, in national interests and in diplomatic consistency. I would say such reasons are insignificant, in view of the need for the protection of the human rights of victims. Any reasoning of a state unable to carry through on its moral responsibilities, cannot make sense. Providing postwar compensation should help Japan to gain the confidence of its Asian neighbors, and thus cannot be against national interests. If the government cannot rectify existing wrongs in its diplomacy and administration, it has no reason to exist. If we are honest about our past mistakes in relation to Korea, China, Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, Asians should be able to ease their minds, opening the way to a resolution of each problem separately. Potential problems are not limitless, so the bill surely must be affordable for an economy that could manage a contribution of 13 billion dollars for the Gulf War, and provides an annual 10 billion dollars in ODA. The public must be convinced of more meaningful and effective ways of allocating funds.

What we are calling for is not limited to governmental action. Rather, as citizens, we are prepared to share the pains to build a society that would see its moral responsibilities through.

I heard a story of a Jewish woman who, having long hated the Germans and their state, happened to find much later after the war the sincerity of a German woman, and apologized to her for her own hatred of the Germans. This anecdote suggests to us how a bridge for "reconciliation" can be built. I wonder when such a bridge will be constructed by Japan.


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