Time has moved on: We must forgive Japan

We should never forget the pain and suffering endured for the freedom we enjoy today, but Japan has apologised on several occasions for their actions during WW2. Why don't veterans acknowledge this?
Mike Rhodes, Germany

As an Englishman residing in Australia for 20 years, I've heard much of Japanese war crimes. But the past is now gone. Let's just leave it and get on with the future. My religion tells me to forgive those who sin against me.
Martin Murray, Australia

No, I wouldn't. Once again the stinking xenophobia of the British tabloid press rears its ugly head. Perhaps those baying for compensation should consider how much the UK and US would have to pay to Japan for the initial and ongoing damage of the two bombs we dropped on them in 1945. Let's not forget Dresden while we're at it. The point is that we should forgive and try to learn something from what was a particularly inglorious period in human history. That is not how some are behaving now - from all points.
Darren Stephens, UK

Japan is not the only country to commit atrocities on humanity. Throughout history during wars almost every victor country has committed atrocities on the country defeated by them. In recent times from Stalin to Deng Xiao Ping they have suppressed their own people as well as the people of other countries. Will the Chinese Government apologise for the Tiananmen Square massacre or for the butchering of millions during the Cultural Revolution. Will Russia apologise for aggression against Czechoslovakia in 1969? Will European countries apologise for their colonial rule in Asia and Africa? Then why should Japan be singled out? The defeat in the Second World War itself is enough humiliation for Japan. They have already paid the price of their "crime".
John Basak, Canada

We need to look to the future without turning our backs on the past. Japan is a very different and peacful country now. They protested strongly against the recent nuclear tests as they have been the only major victims of nuclear weapons so far.
George Coney, UK

50 years ago... Like Tony Blair said - they fought for peace, now we have it, we won - let's be friends. How can an emperor, who was a boy when it all happened, apologise? As for the money, well, I think that's just a side issue - money cannot heal wounds or emotions.
Kevin, UK

This is nothing but crass and embarrassing xenophobia. The Japanese Government does not hold any kind of monopoly when it comes to war time atrocities. That was war, we won! We also composed the settlement terms. To move the goalposts 50 years on is nothing short of stupid. How far back should we go? Are we prepared to compensate the African continent over colonialism and slavery? It's time to start looking to the future, positively. The modern Japanese nation has redeemed itself many times over. Lastly, how about the brutal slaughter of Japanese people in Hiroshima?
Tony Esuk, UK

I do not presume to ask the former prisoners of war to forget their suffering at the hands of Japanese troops in World War II; however, I do ask them to set an example to us all and grow beyond it.
Crises of all kinds bring not only suffering; they also bring an opportunity for reflection and change, provided that the comforting status of victim is abandoned. A country defeated in war, for example, has the chance to radically alter damaging behaviour and beliefs. This imperative is denied to the victors, many of whom focus instead on justifying their actions (by, for example, declaring that carpet-bombing or using nuclear weapons on cities was acceptable because it "shortened the war").
By all means, therefore, let us open up the issue of past crimes and atrocities. Perhaps the UN could organise an "Apology Fest", at which every nation could be forced to confront the consequences of its bad actions over the past one or two centuries. Then both the losers and the victors of wars, as well as the voters for governments that continue to directly or indirectly perpetrate atrocities by sponsoring terrorism, ignoring human rights or following policies that lead to starvation of the poor - that is all of us - could have the chance of learning from suffering and move forward.
Japanese civilians also suffered atrocities during World War II, at the hands of the Allies. But clinging to the status of victim (as people in Japan have been encouraged to do) or nursing old-established anger (like the protesters in London) both blind us to the reality that, however comforting it may be to believe otherwise, all of us are capable of evil, and we all have a duty to show forgiveness and compassion.
Janet Burgess, Japan

Turning our backs on the emperor achieves nothing. Lest we forget Japan is not the only country that can be accused of being heavy handed with their enemies (Hiroshima, Dresden to mention but two). There will never be a time when we should forget the events of the war, never, but this stubborn grudge denies future generations of their choice to progress. We should learn from the past, not live in it.
Paul Beaumont, UK

We saw similar protests in India recently when the Queen visited the site of the Amritsar massacre in 1919. The Queen did not say "Sorry", but did exactly as the Japanese Emperor has done and expressed "deep regret". Why should we expect better standards from the Japanese than we are prepared to apply ourselves?
Nick Mullen, UK

Emperor Akihito symbolises the Japanese people but as a constitutional monarch he cannot apologise. It is up to his government to do that. It is also unfair to punish a man for the sins of his father.
Neil Taylor, Hong Kong, China

One should forgive one's enemies and be magnanimous. See how the Vietnamese have forgiven the Americans and now they are doing business together!!!
Abhijit Sen, USA

I fully understand that war is a terrible event, but today's world is a very different place and we should be concentrating on cementing the future. In their way the Japanese have shown sorrow at what happened, but we should not forget that our country was involved in the dropping of two nuclear devices, which have caused continuing suffering and which it was right to do at the time. I believe that we should move on.
Gil Williams, UK

How long must one carry a grudge/resentment/hatred? The world is becoming smaller by the day. When the queen was in India, a call for her to apologise for the past atrocities committed by the colonial British in India was set aside in the spirit of 'forgive and forget'. This magnanimous gesture from the Indians should have prompted the British veterans to extend the same generosity to the Japanese Emperor. The cup of bitterness, surely, must be empty by now.
Vasant M Joshi, USA

What is the point? Why apologise for a war? Both sides committed atrocities in WWII. It's the nature of war! If we go through the rest of our respective futures apologising for things our parents/grandparents did/did not do, NOTHING would be achieved.
We learn from history - be it right or wrong. That's what history is for - there is no need to revisit the past - just move on and incorporate the experiences into our future selves.
Jason Dyer, Canada (English expat)

Firstly we are 50 years on. The emperor did nothing wrong himself. It's a governmental issue. Also remember it's the Brits who invented the concentration camps. So let's not feel so precious about it. The vets should get the compensation but we need to keep the thing in perspective.
Benjamin Mackie, UK

I feel that it is NOT the emperor of Japan's responsibility to make an apology as long as he did not commit the terrible actions. Anyway, isn't it a little old? Hasn't this been going on long enough? Also, I don't agree with the idea of compensation. After all, what price can you put on such suffering?
Daniel Jackson, USA

While the atrocities committed in Japan during WW2 were awful by any standard, and it turns my stomach to think of them, we must all move on and not blame the people now for mistakes made by the people then.
Kris Fowler, England

The war and its settlements can not be revisited. The British government put the pursuit of Cold War Real Politik ahead of the anguish of its returned POWs. Britain owes the POWs an apology and compensation.
Frank King, New Zealand

As an ex-member of the RN, I can remember clearly the UK's colonial past and it was not pleasant! The Emperor of Japan was not born until after WWII! What happens to the UK if Japan decides to withdraw its investments? The POWs did suffer and so did the countless victims of British colonies and protectorates! No, I would not turn my back on the Emperor.
Tony Berry, Canada

If we make our enemy our friend, do we not destroy our enemy? The enemy Japan has been destroyed, in part because of the successful sacrifice of the protesters, and their fallen comrades. But a new Japan has arisen, a democracy, with respect for human rights, and extremely warm relations with the UK.
The protesters have every right to conduct their dignified and measured demonstration, but they can also take comfort from the fact that the democratic, civilised and happy country that Japan now is, is partly their creation. Whilst they still feel some anger, I hope they also feel pleasure at how well things have turned out.
George Kendall, UK

The Emperor of Japan (present day) was not responsible for the horrors of World War 2. It is better to forgive and show by example, the way a nation should behave, than to continue to hate and drag on an old dispute.
Francis Anderson, UK

They should get some compensation, but where will it all end - should Tony Blair apologise for the British attack on Dresden in WWII?
Andrew Jones, England

Yes I would. That can't hurt nearly as much as my dad getting blown off of TWO ships during WWII! Besides, my back is probably my best feature.
James Crabtree, USA

If you want to turn your backs on someone turn your backs on Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. They are the ones who are sucking up to the Japanese in the name of trade. There is not one country that fought in the World War II that did not commit atrocities. Will Britain apologise to the Indians for the rape and pillaging of India? Will America apologise to the millions of innocent Vietnamese civilians? Then why should Japan apologise? Yet another example of western hypocrisy. I have yet to see in my lifetime a civilised and just war!
Mr Farrukh Siddique, UK

I wonder: Do these former POWs turn their backs on German leaders too? Or are the Japanese worse because they aren't white?
Charlene Vickers, Canada

Britain has quite a few shameful acts of its own for which no direct apology has ever been offered, such as shooting prisoners on the first day of D-Day (no facilities were available to hold them), the massacre of Punjab, the exploitation of 19th century South Africa etc. Also the Emperor of today is NOT the Emperor of fifty years ago. He has indicated regret and under the circumstances I think that should be enough.
However I do not feel the POWs should be prevented from letting their feelings be known. They went through hell and they have earned the right to protest and to make sure the facts are not forgotten or distorted.
Roy Matthews, England

It makes me ashamed to be British when I see former soldiers behave with such disrespect. What kind of message does this give to young people about our attitudes to other cultures and countries? The xenophobia that exists in this country has no place in a civilised and tolerant country. How would you feel if you were Japanese yesterday?
Joe Derrett, England

As it was not constitutionally possible for the Japanese Emperor to speak politically, it would seem unreasonable to attempt to make him issue a formal apology on behalf of the Japanese government. However we should have every sympathy with those POWs who suffered enormously in the labour camps and therefore feel entitled to recompense from the Japanese government.
Miland Joshi, UK

I am not pro-Japan, but I think Japan knows that England should make an apology to many people as well. And I am not a German citizen. I am an international person. I hope all the countries can do enough to pay back their dues.
Saul Judd, Germany

Surely it's time to forgive? It's incredible that after more than 50 years, some people still cannot move on. As we know, of course, Japan weren't the only country to commit war crimes - remember Dresden?
Paul Copley, UK

The war veterans are disgracing Britain. They stand there with their medals, turning away from the emporor and achieve nothing. I'd like to live in a country where the majority of the people would never go to war - no matter what the cost. In fact that needs to happen in the whole world. Those that did go to war (whether they are British, German or Japanese etc.) do not get my respect, but my pity. The fact that they carry on such terrible feelings towards another nation just makes me sick. Our grandfathers killed millions of people. What a horrible thought. If Britain had lost the war we would have been accused of the crimes against humanity.
Jonathan Bigger, UK

I certainly wouldn't turn my back on Emperor Akihito! Even with the stench still fresh in my nostrils, I genuinely still accept that the "bad guys" of this world must be stopped even if it does take Naphthalene flame throwers to do it...and being among the first to open the gates of Changi prison to release our (mainly British) prisoners, only reinforces that acceptance.
Nevertheless, all of these actions, however atrocious, were all done in the line of battle; in a ' declared ' war. Unfortunately, because President Truman could see no end to that war, he declared that the only way to end it quickly was to 'strike fear into the very hearts of the Japanese people' by using the atom bomb. Regrettably, apart from perhaps a few Japanese military who may have been there on leave (furlough) at the time, the bombs dropped on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki took out 225,000 innocent men, women and children who were certainly not responsible for the atrocities carried out by their military throughout that war. I was just outside the "footprints", so to speak, of those blast areas. This, indeed, was the biggest act of terrorism yet committed...only to be followed later in other 'undeclared ' war zones with the indiscriminate use of Napalm bombs and Agent Orange...thereby taking out far too many innocent civilians to be considered justifiable homicide.
Furthermore, who takes care of the "bad boys" who commit brutal and senseless killings, like the more than 500 old men, women and children in the village of "Me Lai" in Vietnam, that to this day have gone largely unpunished?
So, in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Emperor Akihito of Japan, why are the demonstrators not demanding an apology from the "Allies" (since we are all liable) to the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as, demanding apologies from the Japanese for the prostitution of Korean and Filipino women and the brutal treatment of some former British prisoners who, unlike the victims of the bombs, are still very much "alive"!
There is no comfort in the fact that history now shows that since their extremely successful nuclear bombing of the Japanese mainland, the USA has suffered either total defeat or, at best, an unacceptable result in every single military action it has engaged in since then...to say nothing of their many separate covert operations. In fact this state of affairs simply belies the title "The World's greatest Military Power" unless, of course, we consider hardware to be more important than morals, prowess and people in this materialistic world. Show me how many Victory medals the USA have struck since the end of World War II and I promise you, we will rewrite history together.
Dougal Paterson, Philippines

I only hope that the Japanese people do not get a distorted view of British opinion, as exhibited by a handful of people who are still living in the past. The issue of compensation was settled over 40 years ago, and an apology by the Japanese government is an irrelevance.
It is not disputed that some Japanese were brutal to POWs. However, I do not see the distinction between the brutality of killing hundreds of thousands of civilians by indescriminate bombing, and the killing of prisoners of war, (perhaps other than the fact that those who live by the sword should be prepared to die by it).
Perhaps an apology for the dreadful "Tamagotchi" and "Karaoke" would be more appropriate and relevant for the 90's?
D Robinson, UK

I am a 24 year old male, who studies at a college in the U.S. First of all, I am a generation, who did not go to the WWII but only heard about it long after it had ended. By seeing numbers of documentary films and pictures related to the war, I could understand that those veterans suffering during the war to the extent that I cannot express in words. Indeed I could say that a war is an evil thing no matter where and when it occurs. Would you allow me to believe that there must have been a suffering in Japan, too? I think that the world should go forward as time passes. It does not mean that we should forget all the bad things in the past, of course because we have to prevent such a tragedy to happen in future, after generations and generations. I hope that the emperor Akihito's visit to Great Britain would work as a reconciliation between two countries and not as a fire-starter. I am sure there would be a notion of apology in this visit even if it was unsaid. After all, human communication is not only about what we speak but also what we do. I want to look forward and hope that I am not the only one. I want to love you and I hope you do too.
Kenji Sugihara, USA

The Queen or the British Governement did not apologise to India for the Jalianwala Bagh massacre or the deaths of 3 million Indians in Bengal in an artificial famine created by the British authorities, and this does not take into consideration the atrocities on countless other freedom fighters. The veterans also do not speak out for the Indian soldiers who were under their command. If anyone has to compensate the veterans it is the British Govt. for sending them to a place where they had no right to be. I agree that anybody who mistreats another individual is in the wrong whatever the circumstances are.
R K Siddheshwar, UK

No, I would not. It is ridiculous to try and hold the current emperor responsible for the actions of his predecessors. He was five years old when the war began and eleven when it ended. How can he possibly be responsible for what happened Much as I sympathise with the suffering of the veterans it was over half a century ago and it's time to forgive and forget. In any case, very few of those responsible for the ill-treatment are still alive. The world in general, and Japan in particular, are very different now and we have to live in today's world not that of 1945.
Neil Tonks, UK

Does it really change what happened in the past? Does this action compensate the suffering? Raking up issues fifty years old only makes present day sour.
B.Ramanand, India

To visit on anyone so much anger at the sins of their fathers is a pointless exercise. Countless civilians in British Malaya suffered at the hands of Japanese troops, and the bitterness of all survivors is perfectly understandable. But at least Japan has expressed remorse for her wrongs and made some attempt to put things right. Britain, the great colonial power who left Malaya a seething hotbed of racial conflict, has not. For me now to bear this against the Queen or her subjects, among whom I now count some of my best friends, would be absurd.
Harvey Koh, Malaysia

I understand why those who turned their backs on the Japanese Emperor did so, but I don't accept it. As Jennifer Boulton said life HAS moved on. We shouldn't forget our past but we don't have to keep using it as an excuse all the time. Surely those who demonstrated today can accept that Emperor Akihito is prevented by the Japanese constitution to apologise for anything on behalf of the Japanese people so what was the point except that it gave them front page coverage in tomorrow's newspapers which tell us about yesterdays' news?
Shane Quinn, Northern Ireland

I understand the feelings of the vets who were imprisoned by the Japanese, one cannot forget it. But, more than 50 years have passed, times have changed, nations have changed, and it is time to bury the old wounds and step on into the future.
Columban, USA

Gestures such as these serve nothing more than stoke the resentment and hatred of the past, that the vast majority of both British and Japanese have successfully put behind them. Move forward, not backward.
Stuart Hargreaves, UK

We must never forget, but we must also forgive - this is the mark of a truly great nation.
James Watson, UK

I think it is not appropriate for one to turn their back to the Emperor. The present Emperor is not guilty of perpetuating the war, and is in fact a victim of a very difficult position. I do, however, understand the the anger of the veterans...I have relatives who served in the War, and have caught a glimpse of the terror, pain and anguish they experienced...I say that they should face the Emperor so that he can truly see the anguish in their faces and eyes...If the Emperor sees the sorrow, perhaps he will be moved to act to furthur reconciliation for all involved.
Robert D. Hickman, USA

The future of our world is not in the past. To live there is to NOT learn from those terrible experiences.
W.C. Windsor, USA

While feeling great understanding with the ex-servicemen who are protesting at the visit of the Emperor of Japan I cannot wholly agree with their actions. I do agree that there should be apologies and compensation from Japan but to certain extent this has been done already. It is not really up to the Emperor (who was only a boy at the time ) to apologise for the "sins of his father". But what about the way we treated Japan. We dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing 73,884 civilians and maiming tens of thousands more. The bomb on Nagasaki killed many catholic Christians. Have we apologised for that??? Have we paid any compensation to Japan for those deaths and injuries?? In 1989 I went with a party of school children to Japan for two weeks. We were treated with the utmost courtesy and generosity. I stayed in a Japanese home for 7 days and was treated as a member of the family. In return I have had several Japanese guests living in my home here in Edinburgh. It is very easy to form a real bond of friendship with them. On only one occasion was I asked about the bombs. A head teacher in a school I visited asked me in front of a class of Japanese children if I thought it was morally right to use atomic weapons. I gave my honest opinion that it was wrong. In Japan there does not seem to be so much hate towards us for these actions. The ceremonies which occurred on the 50th. anniversary of the dropping on the bombs were all about peace and reconciliation. The Japanese are actively telling their children about the importance of peace. How many lessons are devoted to this subject in our schools? It saddens me that so much hostility is being shown to the current emperor. I feel that we need to forgive and move forward.
Peter Cowlishaw, Scotland

The veterans embarrass those of us who have not had a part in the war and wish to establish relations on today's rather than yesterday's terms. Moreover, by turning their back on the Queen they are not only insulting the (personally innocent emperor) but our head of state. For all the genuineness of their grievances, they are displaying the fundamentally un-English attributes of lack of moderation and disrespect. Perhaps they should listen more to some of their more forgiving comrades.
Duncan Elliott, England

In a time of war harsh treatment of prisoners has been done by all sides though I admit the British army has treated their prisoners better. I do not wish to protest to Emperor Akihito as he was in no way responsible for Japanese military actions during WW2.
Jaliya, USA

We are all aware of the atrocities associated with WW2,but at some point we have to move forward rather than fester on old wounds.By showing disrespect to the emporer cannot possiby assist in diplomatic healing.
Jason Conway, UK

I am a Japanese expatriate and never felt the slightest patriotism for Japan before, until this emperor issue came up. But this demand from British POWs is so unfair and off the point. Do not get me wrong, I am not indifferent to what the Japanese Imperial Army did to those prisoners in Thailand/ Burma or the atrocities carried out in China and Korea. Even though these war crimes in China and Korea have never been officially acknowledged as a fact by the Japanese Government. The reason why Japan should not agree to give compensation are: 1. The compensation was already made in accordance with the San Francisco Treaty. If there was a problem in the amount of compensation, they should have said so before accepting the money. I personally think this is to do with the greed. If Japan had not built such a successful economy this issue would not have been raised. 2 The United Kingdom is a very old country with a colourful, glorious and lengthy history. I am sure many know that there are a lot of accounts of bloody incidents in its history as well. Zulu, Central Africa, Ireland, Scotland, France, India, North America against red Indians. Now are the British people prepared to pay compensation to all those who suffered at the hands of British Imperial Army, including the ones already settled long time ago?? the point is that this is a war we are talking about. Anything could happen. Of course, it is a cruel, wasteful business, but this is a war, for God's sake. in relation to the apology from emperor, this will not be possible. because, unlike the Queen of England, who are human being, Japanese Emperor is a God, in the eye of Japanese. You do not ask for an apology from the Lord when your grandfather dies in a flood. Not that I particulary wish to keep our royal family in place. Just it will not happen.
K Shankland, UK

World knows that the British are still foolish enough to have a constitutional monarchy. She and her messed up heirs love to travel too. What if all the erst while colonies decide to do the same to her,and when they do it will be a royal pain for the UK in you know where !?!
Ramkumar, USA

If we the britishers are to turn our back on emperor akihito, then what about the brutalities commited by our people on the so-called common wealth countries?? Will the queen of england apologise first to all the nations where we commited savagery?
John Matthew, UK

How many times have the British apologised to the non-white countries where they ruled for hundreds of years, killing people and raping women in the name of the great queen. I hope that the English people don't have to be reminded the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy where thousands were killed, the shameless monarchs when they came to India, were seen disputing the number of people who got killed instead of offering apologies. Instead of expecting useless apologies, the British people should ask their leaders to apologise to the Indians and the Pakistanis and other nations they ruled and looted - hiding the treasures in the great queen's castles.
Vasu, India

It's not the Japanese fella who should feel ashamed. HOW DARE Tony Blair try to influence the way that our veterans feel towards the Japanese hierarchy just in the name of making himself look good. For our people to turn away is only a backward step. We must look the Japanese in the eyes to see how they feel on the subject. Resolution can only come from understanding. As for Blair, well I shall certainly be turning my back to him.
Stuart Townsend, England