War and Post-War: War Experience and Japanese Chinese Studies

Author: [Japanese] Masatoshi Tanaka / Luo Fuhui et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The pure post-war generation, who grew up completely unrelated to the war, would not have any sense of responsibility—this is the thinking based on common sense. However, as long as a conscientious Japanese is born in different eras, living on the basis of the continuity of being Japanese, it is only natural to inherit the responsibilities left by the pre-war generation. "Citizens" are also "citizens" as the sovereigns of Japan, and since they stand on the position of participating in the operation of the state, they must bear the same responsibilities. Even if they have detached themselves from the relationship with the state, as long as they are members of the Japanese nation, they cannot escape from the transcendent generational collective responsibility. — Yasuharu Kamei, War Responsibility I feel that the issue of war responsibility is urgent. The Emperor may be close to seventy-three years old by now (in 1974). If he were to pass away, could we just let him go without any sense of responsibility for this tragic life? A dignified person, yet he wants to shirk such a great responsibility in the face of the Emperor, while still holding the Emperor responsible for the tragic sacrifices under the imperial system. If we don’t do so, this country has no morality. — Yoshimi Kojima, History and Education
Why does only Japan mourn the deaths of its own; why do others only mourn the deaths of others? Why is this the case? Why can’t humans share joy and sorrow together? — Diary of Fallen Japanese Students, Listen, the Sea’s Voice
Masatoshi Tanaka is both a Japanese veteran who experienced World War II and a renowned Japanese historian with a conscience. He is a scholar and representative figure in Japan who has reflected the most deeply and at the highest theoretical level on Japan’s historical aggression against foreign countries in modern history. He was called a "Truthkeeper" by the Chinese historian Liu Dajan. This book is a work in which he reflects profoundly on Japan’s war of aggression from a historical perspective. Based on his personal experiences and observations, he studies Japan’s war responsibility, post-war responsibility, and the issue of remaining chemical weapons; through discussions on historical research methods and modern Japan and East Asian colonization, he refutes the "Affirmative Theory of the Greater East Asia War" and the "Necessity Theory." Some of his views and methods on studying history, especially East Asian history, have also provided great inspiration for historians in China.