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China-Japan-Koreas
Japan names day after Hirohito
2005-05-13
EFL: Japan's parliament has approved a law to rename a public holiday in honour of World War II Emperor Hirohito. The Showa Day holiday, named after Hirohito's posthumous title, is intended to mark Japan's post-war rebirth as well as look to the future. But critics say the move will upset other nations, especially China and the two Koreas, who will say it glorifies Japan's often brutal militaristic past.
Seething in 4..3..2..
A similar bill was abandoned in the past, due to political pressure. But this time the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan backed the bill, which was proposed by the ruling coalition. The opposition said it now accepted the idea that the holiday would encourage public reflection of the turbulent 63 years of Hirohito's reign, rather than glorify the emperor himself.
The bill enacting the new name was promoted by members of Prime Minister Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party, which argues that Japan has already apologised enough for its past. But correspondents say the move will upset other Asian nations because it refers to the period when Japanese troops brutally occupied neighbouring states.
Posted by:Steve

#11  My reasoning, for what it's worth, =

Allies - 1st place (won WWII)
Germany - first runner up (damn near won the thing)
Japan - second runner up (beaten by what could be seen as USA's "second team", not to denigrate brave warriors who gave their all there, but FDR had committed to "Europe First" policy of material distribution)

I guess my main point was even "runner-up" status too complimentary for Japan's WWII history. We need them now, and I respect them as a culture and as a more staunch ally than most, but they really do have to do a better job of coming to terms with that era, IMO.
Posted by: docob   2005-05-14 00:01  

#10  Shellback, were there any Japanese tourists on the Missouri? The normal celebratory swarm of Japanese at the Arizona only have to look up to see the site of Japan's surrender. George H W Bush, a veteran of the war in the Pacific, placed it there deliberately and with great satisfaction.
Posted by: RWV   2005-05-13 22:54  

#9  Hirohito did not start the war, he did, however, end it.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-05-13 19:57  

#8  No, but he did wage a brutal war against the United States...just like Hirohito.
Posted by: shellback   2005-05-13 18:04  

#7  Did Hitler surrender?
Posted by: Shipman   2005-05-13 17:32  

#6  maybe I'm over-reacting but I feel it's a slap in the face to us as well. I know we have a decent relationship with Japan now, but history does repeat itself. Like when I visited the USS Arizona recently, you had more Japanese there than Americans and all loudly (disrespectfully) jabbering in Japanese. We may or may not need them for North Korean negotiation and it's clear they're a great economic partner however if Germany came up with an Adolph Hitler Day, I'd be just a teensy bit suspicious...
Posted by: shellback   2005-05-13 16:37  

#5  More like second-runner-up day. I think Germany gets dibs on first.
Posted by: docob   2005-05-13 16:13  

#4  Yes its named after Hirihito, but officialy its just called "WWII runner-up day"
Posted by: flash91   2005-05-13 12:09  

#3  We were gonna call it China day but you guys protested and acted all unfriendly so we're going to the fallback name. ~Koisumi with middle fingers verticle.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2005-05-13 10:48  

#2  Banzai, Bee-yatch!
Posted by: Glolutch Snomotch2331   2005-05-13 09:16  

#1  [snark]I'm sure the Gauls were happy with July (Julius) and the Germans with August (Augustus) on their calendars too.[/snark]
Posted by: Unogum Elmavirong8971   2005-05-13 09:02  

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