from the japan times re WW2
 

Prayer for peace in Okinawa | The Japan Times Online
this item is an editorial about Okinawa and the end of the war.

Interesting.

I am in Japan at the moment and have heard nothing of this.

After a quick search of "Okinawa memorial day" the only things mentioned date from this year.

Are we seeing a tradition being created? Or should I go beyond the first few hits in the search engine I use.

I wish I could tell you but it is in the JAPAN times.

I believe the prime minister Hatoyama resigned because he could not do much about the American Base in the Okinawa Prefecture. I feel sorry for those who have the burden of the base in their part of the country.

Now you have KAN as Prime Minister so will he make any difference I wonder.

It is a good thing to remember what happened in the past, hopefully to prevent it happening all over again.

I wonder if any of the older generation have ever discussed this with their children.

It may seem long ago but my hope is that we learn from history and try not to make the same mistakes again-- If that is Possible.

Here in Britain I was not made aware of what happened in the Pacific war, now I am learning such a lot from both sides.

None of us are perfect after all.

It seems to me that countries hide a lot from their own people about too many things-- we need to see all sides of a situation and talk rather than make war.


One thing is true we are all capable of terrible deeds and many people die in the process.


I have a book called SENSHO where soldiers and others who lived through the war wrote to the ASAHI SHIMBUN in the eighties. It is a very fascinating and insightful collection of letters.


The battle of OKINAWA was horrific------------ even now okinawa has the American Bases-- causing much distress to the Okinawa people who are affected by it. I believe more consideration should be made for these people who are stuck in the middle of it all.

I do hope agreements can be made between Japan and America over that issue.
You may tell me to mind my own business as I am in England, but I do feel for those caught up in it all still.

More knowledge of the WW2 between the Nazis and Britain and all those involved in that is now being taught to our own children--and I feel that is important so they are aware and don't get entrapped in war again except that now we are in Afghanistan and IRAQ. I do not agree with that either.


whether wars are really about owning land and taking other countries over is that the real reason. We had the British Empire-- but how did we go about that. This is something I wish to study.

I hope I have not caused offence with this message.

Do you happen to remember why there is an American base on Okinawa? If the base is a burden on the people, it was a burden they earned by Japan starting a war which killed millions of human beings.

Your signature says you are from England. Are you aware of the fact that hundreds of thousands of English soldiers were killed, injured, or imprisoned in appalling conditions? That those who were not killed outright by the Japanese were used like slaves on the railroads and airfields, or were used for target practice or even medical research? Did you know that the Thailand/Burma railroad built by the Japanese during the war cost one human life for every wooden railroad tie along it's distance (numbering more than 100,000)?

Do you remember that at the end of the war Japan surrendered "unconditionally", and that the base in Okinawa was built at this time? If the local people are burdened by the presence of a base which was built before most of them were born, how much of a burden did their ancestors place on the families of your countrymen?

When Japan surrendered, America could simply have fully occupied the country and turned it into a permanent American territory. The surrender the Japanese Emperor agreed to gave America that right.

I think America acted quite generously in the matter, and as one who's grandfather and other relatives suffered during the war at the hands of the Japanese, I have no sympathy for the "inconveniences" caused to the locals by the American base in Okinawa.

The Japan of those days is different from the Japan of today, but the base reminds them of the acts which their country committed, and perhaps this is the greatest nuisance. Were I them, I would find the shame more unendurable than the noise of American airplanes and servicemen.

Perhaps you are just a anime/manga fan who knows nothing of history. If you are an anime fan, you should watch this one, which was one of Japan's first animated features. There are 9 parts, you should watch all of them, here is the first one: YouTube - 桃太郎　海の神兵 1/9

No I am not an anime fan etc.

I have learnt a lot and yes too many people died. I have read many books on the subject also.

Is this a subject that should be banned on this forum?

I lived through the war here in UK.

what I am meaning is that if we do forget history then we are always in danger of repeating things.

The whole war was ghastly. It is not my personal business about okinawa but why should that small area have to deal with the Bases?


I know exactly why they are there but do the locals not get a say.

after all who firebombed Japan even before dropping those heinous monstrosities that ended the war. After all the war on Okinawa was to enable the Americans to bombard Japan cities wasn't it.

Americans helped us also and I am grateful to them although many of their lives were lost because of Incompetence by the Generals etc.

I hate all wars and the suffering of so many innocents.

forgive me if I have touched a delicate subject. I do apologise if I have offended anyone here. After all I am an ENGLISH WOMAN.

The reason for the bases is well known. I will keep my nose out of it. I hope amicable agreements can be found. Yes and I know well who started the war. again my apologies for talking out of turn.

Let us pray that nuclear bombs will never be used again--ANYWHERE or the world would be destroyed.

Security treaty 50 years old | The Japan Times Online

this was the editorial in the Japanese Times.

Bullshit! Try saying this to your GF's family.

Watch "Grave of the Fireflies". Everyone suffered including the Japanese and especially Okinawa. Besides, America wasn't as innocent as we Americans always like to think. We (our government) starts stuff all the time and to us citizens it always looks like we are guiltless and "Helping others".
Pearl Harbor did require payback, but don't believe we had nothing to do with getting involved in the war.
American Military (and citizens, you know who I'm talking about;) ) need to act more respectfully in all foreign countries. We need to set the example.
Let the insults fly!

I have a copy of that it is beautifully done though very understated.

I have some books written by survivors-- as children--------- How brave they were and considering the dreadful things they encountered they too are heros.

It was all horrendous--------

I thought the person who was so arrogant about todays residents of Okinawa was totally uncalled for-- Or is it a case of blaming younger generations for the things their ancestors did.


Are our children responsible for all we have done or are doing? I would hope that if we keep history alive we CAN learn from past mistakes. If we are kept in ignorance then we are likely to carry on repeating those same terrible mistakes.

I pray for a world where we can live amicably-- no doubt that is crying for the moon.-

From pretty much every single Japanese person I have ever talked to about the war I have been blown away by their lack of knowledge about it. Some even seem to barely realise that Japan was the aggressor! If you believe learning from history is a good thing then the Japanese are completely failing younger generations in providing them with any facts to learn from.
Few people realise that Japan were actually on the verge of landing troops on mainland Australia after having worked their way down throughout SE Asia. Over 50 air raids were carried out on Darwin in northern Australia and there was intense fighting in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. If it is wasn't for the Americans and their strategic naval victories that cut supply lines to the Japanese army then Japan would possibly still hold large chunks of Asia and possibly even Australia under it's rule.
I think if more Japanese people really knew what occurred during the war, had some idea of the incredible suffering and bloodshed that occurred due to their advance through SE Asia then the they would be a bit more understanding of the small remaining US military presence in their country.

that is very interesting. I had read about what happened in Australia but until recently had been very ignorant.

countries that try to erase such history of their country's deeds are wrong to do that.

There is much about English History of which I have been ignorant-- I am trying to learn more. There is a very interesting programme on TV covering various wars-- We all need to learn and try not to repeat such dreadful things.

With the internet and easy access to material and books etc more information is more easily accessible.

I have been trying to read books on both sides of the equasion--. Here we hear about the Nazi war but I honestly had not known about the PAcific war which was horrendous.

Since meeting my japanese friend I have been doing a lot of research and taking an interest in Japan and its culture-- trying to teach myself the language but that is slow going. She was born in 1942 and had a very hard childhood but does not talk much about that time. I was born before the war and remember much of what happened here in England-- always being afraid when I heard an aeroplane overhead. Would it drop more bombs.

Mans inhumanity to MAN.

Our bible in the old testament is full of war war war-- so will we ever change.



It is good to hear from you.

What has Japanese understanding of WW2 got to do with US military presence here?

The US presence is not to stop Japan from starting up again if that is what you are implying.

I dont know how an understanding of it would justify their presence so please explain.

United States Forces Japan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

this is one explanation not sure how up to date it is

Its an explanation but it doesnt require a more concise knowledge of WW2 to comprehend it which is what Gonative was implying.

I'm not suggesting that the US presence in Japan has anything to do with stopping Japan from becoming a threat again. My implication is that Japan owes a significant debt to this region for the pain and suffering that it caused. As part of that debt I do not think it unreasonable that it assist the US with strategically placed military bases. Whether or not the current location of the bases is the best place for them is certainly debatable though.
And I think it's difficult for younger generations to appreciate the need to owe any sort of debt when they have little, if any, knowledge of the incredible amount of destruction, death and suffering this country caused through the war. Most of them though are well aware of the suffering caused to the Japanese people towards the end of the war which totally skewes their historical viewpoint about the conflict.

I disagree that Japan owes a debt to the region. It owes a debt to a certain generation I can agree with that but Japan owes me as a New Zealander born 45 years after the conflict nothing. Nor does it owe the countries it went to war with. Your mistake I believe is that you are thinking of countries as though they are people.

I agree that the LESSONS learnt in World War 2 are important. But I dont think young Japanese should feel any sort of guilt that their forefathers bore them. Heck if we are going to inherit guilt then we can blame the British for an awful lot that went wrong in Australia and New Zealand as well as white Australians and New Zealanders. But I dont believe in inheriting guilt and that goes for the young Japanese of today to.

that is my point really-- Ignorance clearly will bring misunderstandings.

I was ignorant about the PAcific war-- because it was scarcely mentioned in our history books. I used to ask myself when young What was VJ day--I had heard about the many atrocities especially to POW's but was ignorant of the reasons for Us to be involved in that war. We heard about the terrible H bombs--but I am ashamed that I knew so little-- and it was not until I befriended a japanese lady-- my attitude previously was very anti- the Japanese--that I have made efforts to learn more and been very shocked by so much of it all-----------------I used not to read anything about war as I hate it so much but I realise that we do need to know the reasons why so many wars are started. I have made efforts to see it from both sides as much as that is possible. Usually it is governments that get us involved.

Did not the Japanese people believe in their emperor as a GOD? DID they not fight for Him?


EMPEROR HIROHITO - Japan | Facts and Details

Thanks for the link.

I like your outlook dude :D

I think "ma'am" would be more appropriate.

Oh really? Dogsbody sounds masculine to me.... but... my bad.

HA Ha don't know the last time I was called M'aam if ever, but its nice.

I don't mind being called DUDE thats what my son calls his mates.

I am babs or barbara-- they used to sing that song to me Bar bar bar bar baranne remember that one. Hate the name but then whats in a name.

actualluy that reminds me my japanese friend told me that the Emperor was held very much in Awe and they were not allowed to say his name.

I'm a bit old in the tooth but hey not too old to learn.

PS dogsbody does a bit of everything don't they-- so thats me to a tee. also servant to my own dogs-- I bred dogs for over forty years-- some of mine were also exported to AMERICA and shown there.

I do not know what the modern japanese generation think or feel about ww2 my point is that the truth should not be hidden from them as happens so often in every country.

I do not know what information is given in japanese language to educate them.

I honestly think that now with the web and global television we will be learning a lot more about ourselves and our country's involvement in fighting.

in the bible it mentions about the sins of the fathers being inherited by later generations-- perhaps that is true.

But really what I feel is: knowledge is POWER and ignorance will cause misunderstanding. Its really about trying to PREVENT WaR: that I am on about.

I guess that withour wars and plagues we soon would be vastly over populated---------------------

We do know that many civilians suffered-- as well as members of the armed forces.

It is still happening isn't it.

Security treaty 50 years old | The Japan Times Online

not sure if I put this up previously or not.