It has been announce that Prime Minister Abe of Japan will visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii the end of this month. He did not attend services yesterday, December 7th, the 75 anniversary of the Japanese surprise attack which killed over 2,000 Americans.
As with everything the Japanese do in reference to their role in slaughtering millions during World War II, Abe's actions are simply too little, too late. They are a nation in denial.
If Japan truly wanted to promote reconciliation with the world community their choice would be a very simple one. On Tuesday, December 13th there will be a Nanking Massacre Memorial Service in Nanking. Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Abe should attend and offer an apology to the people of China. During the seven week siege of Nanking(more often referred to as The Rape of Nanking) over 300,000 people were killed. Emperor Akihito is the son of Emperor Hirohito, who ordered the slaughter.
Over 250,000 were killed as a result of bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki and each August the international community condemns the United States for its actions. More people died as a result of the Japanese attack on Nanking, but each December there is silence from the international community. Mass slaughter as a result of hand-to-hand combat evidently is an acceptable form of war. The hypocrisy of the world community stings.
Abe most likely will pat himself on the back for going to Pearl Harbor. He will think progress has been made by his trip. He must go to Nanking on December 13th. It will never happen this year, or any year.