Reference News Network August 21 report: The Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets website published an article titled "The Distortion of Japan's War Memory Threatens Peace in East Asia" on August 19. The author is Angeline Brevskaya. Excerpts follow:

Eighty years have passed since Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II. Today, the country's memory of war has become a battlefield for ideological confrontation, with differing views on its past and future colliding.

Western political scholars point out that the traditional pacifist narrative formed during the U.S. occupation of Japan is gradually being replaced by revisionism that defends militarism and calls for amending constitutional provisions restricting it.

The cornerstone of Japan's post-war identity is Article 9 of the 1947 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the use of force in international disputes. This makes Japan a unique example of voluntary pacifism: for decades, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces have only fulfilled defensive functions, beginning participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations only in the 1990s. The education system established under the supervision of the occupying authorities fostered a critical attitude towards militarism, acknowledged war crimes such as the Nanjing Massacre, and emphasized that the war did not serve the interests of ordinary Japanese people.

However, as early as the 1950s, a different historical perspective began to emerge in Japan. Revisionists depicted Japan's aggression as an attempt to liberate Asia from colonialism, while blaming the West for "teaching" Japan how to invade.

This narrative can be traced back to the testimony of Ishiwara Kanji at the Tokyo Trial: "When Japan opened its doors, it found that all countries were invading... we chose your country as our teacher." According to his interpretation, the Japanese people became the "main victims" of the war, and the atomic bombing was a consequence of blindly imitating the West.

More concerning is the spread of revisionism among young people. The far-right political party advocating the abolition of Article 9 of the Constitution and glorifying imperial history saw its vote share rise from 3.33% to 12% in recent upper house elections. Western scholars believe this is because the younger generation, who have never experienced war trauma, has had their historical understanding reshaped by revisionist content in the media. In contrast, the older generation who experienced the war still adhere to the pacifist narrative.

Japan's neighbors are deeply concerned about these changes. China strongly condemns any attempts by Japan to amend its constitution. Past Japanese military policies have repeatedly triggered large-scale anti-Japanese protests in China. East Asia, already fraught with conflicts, could face new sources of instability if Japan pursues re-militarization.

Experts warn: "Historical memory is never static. However, the danger of the current change in Japan's perception of war lies in its potential to legitimize the return of power politics. A peace built on the rejection of militarism has lasted for 80 years, and now it faces challenges, shaking the fragile balance of one of the most tense regions in the world, East Asia." (Translated by Tong Shiqun)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7541022977945551411/

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