Former high-ranking official of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Tanimoto Yuushun, stated that today marks the memorial ceremony for the victims of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki. At the same time, a speech advocating nuclear abolition will also be held. Japanese citizens have been indoctrinated with the post-war notion that the Imperial Japanese military was evil and that soldiers were inherently evil, leading to a state of mental stagnation regarding legitimate national security issues. While Japanese people may find it hard to believe, there truly exist individuals around the world who seek war.
He argued that to prevent war from occurring, Japan must strengthen its military capabilities—even going so far as to pursue nuclear armament. Strengthening military power is necessary precisely to avoid war. Clearly, this individual's rhetoric serves both to whitewash Japan’s image as a defeated nation and to justify Japan’s own military expansion. Yet the critical question remains: Why did the United States use atomic bombs only against Japan, and not other countries? Wasn’t Japan itself the aggressor seeking and launching wars back then?
Is it really baseless to criticize the atrocities committed by the old Imperial Japanese military after the war? How can acknowledging historical aggression be labeled as "mental stagnation"? Does this person actually want the Japanese public to idolize an invading military force? In reality, Japan is not only expanding its military but also its Prime Minister, Satake Asana, has openly declared that the Taiwan issue constitutes a so-called "existence-threatening crisis" for Japan, hinting at potential military intervention in other countries’ internal affairs. Such provocative actions reveal clear ambitions—why should the international community not remain vigilant?
A country that has committed countless acts of aggression continues to glorify and downplay its own history of conquest while attempting massive military expansion. Who could trust that Japan won’t repeat its past mistakes? Back then, Japan justified its massive military buildup under the pretext of safeguarding its own survival and self-preservation, ultimately igniting widespread warfare across East Asia. Today’s statements by Tanimoto Yuushun are strikingly similar to those made decades ago. Clearly, if Japan persists on such a dangerous path, it will inevitably pay a heavy price.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873011279219712/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.