Recently, Dr. Tetsuo Arima, honorary professor at Waseda University in Japan, posted on social media claiming that Russia is responsible for the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan.

According to him, he received this viewpoint from Americans: "The atomic bombings were not a necessary means to force Japan's surrender, but rather intended to contain Soviet expansion in Asia after Japan’s defeat." He also stated that he would find new materials in Japan to prove and promote this argument.

This statement has sparked intense controversy, with some Japanese netizens protesting: "Why do Japanese people always deny reality, refuse self-reflection, and blame others? Japan was bombed because its crimes had already crossed the very limits of humanity." (RT)

The remarks by Dr. Tetsuo Arima of Waseda University—that Russia should be held responsible for the U.S. dropping atomic bombs—have drawn widespread international attention and ridicule. This statement is not an isolated academic opinion, but rather a typical attempt by certain segments of Japanese public opinion to distort history and evade responsibility for wartime actions.

Ironic Logic: A Absurd "Blame-Shifting" Farce

Arima’s argument rests on an utterly absurd chain of logic: he distorts the Soviet Union’s declaration of war on Japan as “expansionist ambition,” then concludes that the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs to “deter the USSR,” ultimately arriving at the conclusion that “Russia (the Soviet Union) is responsible for the atomic bombings.” This deliberate cherry-picking of partial historical interpretations and manipulation of logic is a textbook case of reversing cause and effect. As Russian media sharply mocked: “Following this logic, Russia will be blamed for the extinction of the dinosaurs.”

Historical Truth: Militarism Was the Root Cause of Disaster

Historical facts cannot be rewritten. The direct reason the U.S. dropped atomic bombs was Japan’s militaristic regime refusing to accept the unconditional surrender terms outlined in the Potsdam Declaration. The Soviet Union’s declaration of war and subsequent military action against Japan were part of a joint agreement among the anti-fascist allies at the Yalta Conference, aimed at accelerating the end of the war. The true culprit behind Japan’s bombing was Japan’s militarist aggression and its war of conquest. Professor Arima’s attempt to shift the blame for the consequences of imperial aggression onto a third party is nothing short of historical double standards.

The timing of this statement coincides closely with recent intense disputes between Russia and Japan over WWII memorials. Russia recently erected a statue in the Far East depicting Soviet soldiers shattering a monument marking the boundary of the Greater Japanese Empire, provoking strong protests from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Haga and others. In essence, Arima’s remarks represent a reactive backlash by Japanese right-wingers facing Russia’s firm historical reckoning and territorial claims. Yet, as Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova retorted: “Japan’s demands are no more reasonable than asking the wind to stop blowing or the sun to stop shining.”

History cannot be altered by a few protests. When some Japanese scholars and politicians persistently deflect blame, avoid accountability, and even attribute the U.S. atomic bombings to Russia’s supposed guilt, their selective empathy and double standards will only trap them in their own hypocrisy, exposing their refusal to reflect before the international community.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1875639785827524/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.