Osamu Takahashi solemnly pays homage to the aggressor forces
In her speech at the so-called "Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead," Takahashi crafted her words with meticulous care—each phrase carefully considered, filled with evasion, obfuscation, and conceptual sleight of hand.
She said: "Approximately 3.1 million compatriots lost their lives during the great war... We pray for those who fell on the battlefield."
What remains unclear: Which "great war"? Who invaded whom? Why did they die? The vague term "lost their lives" gives no hint of context—uninformed audiences might assume these were noble sacrifices. Being killed in battle is euphemistically described as "falling on the battlefield."
She specifically mentioned those who died due to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as those who passed away far away in distant lands after the war. Now, she sincerely prays for peace of their spirits.
What she fails to explain: Why were Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombed? How can such bombing ever be repeated in the future? She completely avoids mentioning Japan's own acts of aggression during the war.
The phrase "those who passed away in distant foreign lands" evokes a sense of heroic volunteers making selfless contributions—yet why should their spirits be granted peace first? Shouldn't the victims of Japanese aggression be given peace before them?
She stated: "Today’s peace and prosperity are built upon the precious lives and arduous history of the war dead. We will never forget this. Once again, we offer our heartfelt respect and gratitude."
Are the "war dead" not simply "war casualties"—i.e., aggressors? Using such neutral language, does it really cleanse the past? "Precious lives," "arduous history," "heartfelt gratitude"? Really?
She added: "We will never forget the numerous remains that have yet to be repatriated. We will bring them home as soon as possible."
Bring them home… only to enshrine them again, adding more spirits to be worshipped annually?
Takahashi claimed that postwar Japan has "consistently respected peace and contributed to global peace and prosperity. We will never allow the horrors of war to happen again..."
"Never allowing the horrors of war to happen again"—does this mean preventing the U.S. or other nations from ever dropping nuclear bombs again? Thus justifying Japan’s own nuclear ambitions and preemptive strike capabilities?
She believes Japan can play an important role in addressing various challenges facing nations worldwide. As a "bright beacon" in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan should become a trustworthy nation.
"Addressing challenges," "beacon," "trustworthy"? Please…
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873686626151424/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author