The bullied never forget

Japan Times

READERS IN COUNCIL

July 2001

For anyone who has experienced being bullied, it is quite apparent that bullies usually do not realize that they are bullies, or they try to justify their bullying and place the responsibility and cause of bullying on another, usually their victim, or they tend to conveniently forget or deny their past history of bullying. Those who were bullied may forgive, but they will never forget the pain and humiliation that came with their experience.

In the eyes of the peoples of China, Korea, and other Asian countries that suffered under the yoke of Japanese imperialism, Japan was a bully that subjugated, intimidated, coerced, and humiliated them often with the justification that as an inferior people or culture they deserved such treatment. Fighting back or resistance against the Japanese was often met with a brutal and violent response.

Despite the pacifist outlook that the Japanese people in general may have now and the previously issued Japanese government statements of remorse and apologies for past wrongdoings, those nations and peoples that suffered under Japanese conquest and rule will never forget the past.

Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro and his cabinet may dig in their heels with regard to the textbook controversy and rebuff the points of contention raised by China and South Korea. However, unless Koizumi rises above his own parochial nationalistic sentiments, clears away administrative technicalities and resolve this issue keeping in mind the feelings of those peoples and nations that Japan had bullied and victimized, he will face the possibility of damaging Japan’s hopes of ever becoming a moral leader of justice and human rights.

KO UNOKI

Fujisawa, Kanagawa