Japan PM Abe wants to replace landmark war apology - paper

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to replace a landmark 1995 apology for suffering caused in Asia during World War Two with an unspecified "forward-looking statement", a newspaper reported on Monday.

Abe, a hawkish conservative who is known to want to recast Japan's position on its wartime militarism in less apologetic tones, led his party to a landslide victory in a December 16 election.

He outlined his intention to restate Japan's position in an interview with the conservative Sankei newspaper, but he did not give details.

Any hint that Japan is back-tracking from the 1995 apology, issued by then Prime Minister Tomic Murayama, is likely to outrage neighbours, particularly China and North and South Korea, which endured years of brutal Japanese rule.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/31/uk-japan-apology-idUKBRE8BU03020121231

[Kolesar]

1. They had military drill instructors in every school back in the 1930s

Then they told all the boys that they were "Samurai". Now, go step out in front of that machine gun.

[bemildred]

2. Perhaps we can find some representatives for the Nazis to restate their case too.

Or maybe they could just be honest for once and admit they fucked up bad and got their country destroyed for it. Maybe a bit of humility would be the right thing?

[Nanjing to Seoul]

3. I live in Nanjing, home of the Rape of Nanking.

I am moving to Suzhou, where the Japanese massacred all but 500 people on their march to Nanjing.

I smell more anti-Japanese chaos here.

[Arkana]

4. Can't imagine this little bit of historical revision will go down well.

[SwankyXomb]

5. It's nice to know America

isn't the only country intent on re-fighting wars that were lost generations ago.