2016年CRI Japan should give formal apology for wartime aggression: U.S. historian

 

One of the issues that arise every year on the anniversary of Japan's unconditional¹ surrender is whether a formal apology will be issued.

Like past years, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has vowed² to adhere to the road of peace and not repeat the calamity³ of war.

However, the word 'sorry' was not included in the remarks.

Kurt Piehler, director of the Institute of World War II and the Human Experience with Florida State University, says a formal apology from Japan would go a long way toward creating a lasting⁴ peace in the region.

"I hope that there can be a formal apology. I hope there can be peace treaties between China and Japan, and between Japan and Russia. I hope we could have a model like the model between Germany and Israel where there have been a great deal of reconciliation⁵, and part of that reconciliation was a formal apology."

At the same time, Piehler says domestic politics are still a major factor holding the current Japanese government back.

"I would agree that an apology would be the right thing to do. And I also think in the long-term interest and stability in East Asia would be a very good thing to do for diplomatic relations for Japan. I just wish Japan could really put World War II behind it and really come to a full reckoning. I would say the left Japan has a full reckoning, and Japanese are very divided over the legacy⁶ of World War II."

In marking the August 15th anniversary, Japanese Emperor Akihito did use the term "deep remorse⁷" during the national memorial service, the second time in a row he's used that expression.

Kurt Piehler says while this may be viewed by some as headway toward a formal apology, he says he's still somewhat confused as to why Japanese authorities remain reluctant to officially say 'sorry.'

"I find it hard that the Japanese prime minister, or even more to the point the emperor, has never formally given an apology and has used these sort of semantic terms "regret" and so forth⁸. I think an apology, very similar to what the West German president did it in the 1985, would really clear the air. But I know he faces still lingering political opposition⁹ on the right to making such an apology."

The lack of a formal apology for Japan's invasion of China remains¹⁰ a sore point to this day in diplomatic ties.

A lack of recognition among certain groups in Japan to the Nanjing Massacre¹¹ is also a major problem.

This is when Japanese troops began a 6-week long orgy of rape¹² and murder through the former Chinese capital in December of 1937 which left some 300,000 people dead.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.

1 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

2 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

3 calamity   

n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件

参考例句：

• Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。
• The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。

4 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

5 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

6 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

7 remorse   

n.痛恨，悔恨，自责

参考例句：

• She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
• He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。

8 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

12 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。