Japan apologizes to South Korea for decades of colonial rule

Japan apologizes to South Korea for decades of colonial rule

www.latimes.com

Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized to South Korean residents for his nation's transgressions all those generations ago. "For the enormous damage and suffering caused by this colonization, I would like to express once again our deep regret and sincere apology," Kan said in a statement endorsed by his cabinet.

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The Japanese government has just formally apologized to South Korea about its 35 year colonization of Korea. This is a milestone because the Japanese government has only sparingly addressed and atoned for its brutal war record during the Second World War.

This is the first step to healing and reconciliation between the bitter neighbors. Still, so much more needs to be done, however, this is the first step. A little background of the occupation, included forced labor of the Korean people, forced conscription into the Japanese Army, turning Korean into sex slaves or comfort women, illegal land confiscations, theft of Korean artifacts, and the gradual assimilation of Korean culture into Japanese. The situation for Korea was similar to other localities under Japanese rule during the war.

I am unclear how this latest development from the Japanese government will affect the relationships they have with other nations affected by the militarism during the war? It ought to be interesting how China and other nations affected by Japanese atrocities will react?

The Japanese government has largely been mum about their involvement in World War II and would rather throw money at the victims than formally apologize. We will have to see how this plays out in the future, and could this gesture be an attempt to foster better relations with South Korea to further isolate the North?

www.latimes.com
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Originally posted by Jakes51

The Japanese government has largely been mum about their involvement in World War II and would rather throw money at the victims than formally apologize.

Rubbish.

The last such apology was in February of 2010. Before that, March 2009. In fact, Japan has issued 49 official apologies since 1957 - and that does not include Peace Treaties. And every single time, someone says "FINALLY, after decades of denial, Japan has apologized"...

Full list.

Oh, and: this might shed some light on your "throwing money at the victims" comment.

Thanks for sharing,it is a good thing that Japan is willing to apologize,but this is just the first step ,however China is also a country needs apology ,hope that they can step further in facing the history.