Commemoration in Japan and South Korea: Not all of them speak of repentance

In Japan, have thought of that on Saturday many people the end of the Second world war 75 years ago and the victims of the war. Numerous commemorative events around the country were, of course, the infection increase risk with the novel Coronavirus to the. At the Central commemorative event in Tokyo, only around 550 people took part, about one-tenth of the last the usual number of guests.

Patrick Welter

a correspondent for Economics and policy in Japan, based in Tokyo.

Emperor Naruhito who had climbed 2019 the chrysanthemum throne, spoke at the memorial event of "deep remorse" for the war. Naruhito expressed his hope that the ravages of the war, never like to repeat.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dodged in his address on the question of guilt, and expressed to the Victims of Japanese Aggression have no excuse. He emphasised, however, as in previous years, that Japan will never forget that peace and prosperity are the ultimate victims of the war, based dead.

Abe wants to change the Constitution

Abe has promised to further the country's efforts to prevent war, and to handle his formula of "proactive pacifism". The Prime Minister is working to change the country's Constitution, to confirm the existence of the self-defense forces, and Japanese missions abroad for peace-keeping to extend.

On 15. August 75 years ago, the then Emperor Hirohito had declared in a radio message to his people of the surrender, and the Japanese asked to bear the Unbearable. The Japanese war of aggression against China and the United States as well as in Southeast Asia was in order to the end.

contributed To the decision to surrender the American atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but also the entry of war of Russia. The number of Japanese fallen soldiers and civilian victims is estimated at about 3.1 million people.

Abe refused to 75. Anniversary of the war's end, as in previous years, on a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, where the souls of Japanese war dead, including 14 executed war criminals, is intended to be taught. The right-wing conservative politicians had visited the Shrine, most recently in December 2013. Now, the Prime Minister had, once again, only a donation to deliver.

Four Ministers of his Cabinet visited the one in Japan and abroad, a controversial Shrine, but a visit, including the 38-year-old political rising star and Minister of the environment, Shinjiro Koizumi. Abe even brought flowers to the national memorial Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery, in the Japan of its war dead intends.