Politics 78th war anniversary: PM's war statement causes backlash on Twitter (X)

[thomas]

The official statement of PM Kishida on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the end of WWII caused a major backlash on Twitter/X. While some reactions are quite inappropriate, I can relate to those critical of the (English) wording below:

More than three million of our compatriots lost their lives during the war.Some fell on the battlefields worrying about the future of their homeland and wishing for the happiness of their families. Others perished in remote foreign countries after the war. And many fell victim to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the air raids on numerous cities, and the ground battles in Okinawa, among others. Here, before the souls of all who lost their lives, I offer my heartfelt prayers for their repose.

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There was no mention whatsoever of why Japanese cities were bombed and why "Japanese compatriots perished in foreign countries."

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Japan remembers war dead 78 years after end of World War Two | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

The fighting stopped long ago, but the millions killed continue to be remembered. Japan is marking 78 years since World War Two. It regards August 15, 1945, as the end of the conflict. That's the day the public learned that Japan had surrendered.

www3.nhk.or.jp

 

[musicisgood]

As I actually traveled Japan sometimes I'm really very careful to even say that I'm an American yeah for real and I kind of soft tone it by telling them but my parents are from overseas and so it kind of smooths out the relationship a bit at least that's my opinion.

 

[Petaris]

It really is sad that there is constant reminder of all who died and who is to blame, but the context in which it happened is accidentally left out. For anyone old enough no reminder is really needed I guess but for the younger generation, especially those being taught out of the newer improved (whitewashed) history text books, its just another claim of a totally innocent victim who was attacked without provocation.

Another thing I think is too easily forgotten is that it used to be common practice by all warring nations to attack both military and non-military (civilian) targets. A lot has changed in the world since then and, I think at least, very few countries would consider targeting civilians these days (like carpet bombing cities and the like).

 

[thomas]

Sadly, the current conflict in Ukraine proves that some countries have no scruples attacking civilian targets. We're not talking about carpet bombing but attacks on residential buildings, medical facilities, and, as of last week, war correspondents.