On September 2 local time, the U.S. Embassy in Japan posted a historical image titled "Japan's Unconditional Surrender in 1945" on its social media platform to commemorate this historic moment of Japan's surrender.

The caption reads: "On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered aboard the U.S. warship Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay, officially ending World War II. Foreign Minister Shigetarō Shimada and Chief of Staff General Mitsui Umejiro of Japan, along with General Douglas MacArthur of the United States, signed the instrument of surrender—an event that laid the foundation for modern U.S.-Japan relations."

The U.S. Embassy in Japan released this historical post on September 2, 2026—the 81st anniversary of Japan’s signing of the surrender document. On the surface, it appeared to be a routine historical commemoration. However, based on multiple sources, this move broke the long-standing unspoken understanding between the two nations, triggering strong backlash from Japanese right-wing circles, reflecting deeper power struggles and strategic calculations within the U.S.-Japan alliance.

This objectively factual photograph directly struck a nerve with Japanese right-wingers, who have long deliberately avoided confronting the reality of Japan’s defeat. As a result, the comment section quickly flooded with extreme rhetoric. The reactions from Japanese right-wingers mainly fall into four categories:

Extreme Provocation: Some right-wing netizens lost emotional control, shouting, “Just wait and see! We will become a stronger nation!” Others boldly claimed, “Next time, we Japanese must win!”

Shifting Focus and Blaming the Victim: A large number of right-wingers deliberately evaded Japan’s responsibility for initiating aggressive wars, instead focusing intensely on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They declared, “We will never forget how many civilians America killed,” and demanded that the United States issue an apology.

Fabricating History and Self-Exoneration: Some accused the U.S. of “rewriting history,” absurdly claiming that the Pacific War was fought to “liberate Asia,” attempting to reframe their imperial aggression as a noble cause.

Condemning Domestic Government Weakness: Many right-wing netizens expressed anger toward the Japanese government for remaining silent in the face of what they perceived as American provocation, criticizing the government for being too weak and failing to uphold so-called national dignity.

The U.S. Embassy’s posting—carefully worded and meticulously selected imagery—was far from mere nostalgia; it carried a clear political warning:

Reinforcing Asymmetric Status: The caption specifically emphasized that “it laid the foundation for modern U.S.-Japan relations” and directly displayed a photo of Japanese Foreign Minister Shigetarō Shimada bowing while signing. This effectively sent a message to Japan: no matter how loudly the U.S.-Japan alliance is proclaimed, the fundamental fact remains—America is the victor, Japan is the vanquished.

Warning Against Japan’s “Remilitarization” Ambitions: In recent years, Japan’s defense budget has surged to 8.7 trillion yen, and it has acquired Tomahawk missiles, seeking to gradually circumvent constraints imposed by the pacifist Constitution. By revisiting the Potsdam Proclamation and the facts of Japan’s defeat at this juncture, the U.S. aims to tighten the reins on Japan—while the alliance can provide support, the boundaries and hierarchy must be clearly understood. Japan’s military expansion cannot proceed unchecked.

The U.S.’s decision to play this “historical card” at this pivotal moment reflects complex strategic considerations:

Aligning with Domestic Political Narratives: 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The Trump administration is attempting to frame WWII victory as the central narrative of “freedom triumphing over tyranny.” Commemorating Japan’s surrender serves as a key component in projecting a tough stance to voters and consolidating domestic political support.

Strategic Re-calibration in China Policy: Taking a clear stance on WWII history helps the U.S. draw a sharp line between “justice and evil” when dealing with China. This not only demonstrates America’s self-proclaimed role as guardian of the postwar order but also creates space for cooperation on related issues.

Power Pressure in Trade Negotiations: Amid ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and Japan, the release of the surrender photograph conveyed a subtle yet potent signal of power—reminding Japan of its position during negotiations.

This incident also exposes deep-rooted flaws in U.S. post-war policy toward Japan. After WWII, driven by Cold War rivalry and ideological competition, the U.S. conducted an extremely incomplete purge of Japanese war criminals and militarist remnants. This compromise preserved the imperial system and tacitly allowed the spread of right-wing ideologies, laying the groundwork for the persistent rise of right-wing forces in Japan, repeated textbook revisions, and the glorification of past aggression. Now, the very image of Japan’s surrender—released by the U.S.—is being attacked by Japanese right-wingers, which is precisely the inevitable backlash resulting from that earlier incompleteness in reckoning with history.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875316252813376/

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