英字新聞

The Asahi Shimbun, August 16, 2013
EDITORIAL: Abe should not look away from Japan's history of aggression
加害責任―歴史から目をそらすな

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eschewed visiting Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the 68th anniversary of the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II.
　６８回目の終戦の日だったきのう、安倍首相は靖国神社への参拝を見送った。

Japan’s relations with China and South Korea remain chilly over problems concerning the Senkaku Islands, the Takeshima islets and perceptions of history. A visit to the war-related shrine at this juncture would put off the improvement of relations even further.
　尖閣、竹島や歴史認識の問題で、中国や韓国との関係が冷え切っている折である。ここで参拝すれば、両国との関係改善はさらに遠のく。

Thus, the decision not to visit the shrine was a realistic one.
　見送りは現実的な判断と言えるだろう。

How is the prime minister trying to face up to the past? Not only China and South Korea but also the United States and European countries are keeping a close watch. Visits to Yasukuni Shrine are not the only problem. Behind their misgivings is Abe’s comment earlier this year: “The definition of aggression has yet to be established,” which can be construed as denial of Japan’s war responsibility.
　首相が、過去とどう向きあおうとしているか。中韓のみならず、欧米諸国も目を凝らしている。靖国問題だけではない。先に首相が「侵略の定義は定まっていない」と、日本の戦争責任を否定するかのような発言をしたことなどが背景にある。

A wrong move could cause Japan to become isolated in the international community. The prime minister is urged to take this point to heart.
　対応を誤れば、国際社会で日本の孤立を招く。そのことを首相は肝に銘じるべきだ。

In that sense, there is something we find disturbing.
　その意味で、気がかりなことがある。

While Abe delivered a speech at the government-sponsored memorial service for the war dead on Aug. 15, the address made no reference to reflection on Japan’s responsibility for inflicting damage on Asian nations or any expression of condolences.
　きのうの政府主催の全国戦没者追悼式で、首相の式辞からアジア諸国への加害責任への反省や哀悼の意を示す言葉が、すっぽりと抜け落ちたのだ。

Starting with Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa in 1993, successive Japanese leaders have mentioned the wartime devastation inflicted on Asian countries by Japan in their speeches for the annual ceremony.
　加害責任への言及は、９３年の細川護熙首相（当時）から歴代首相が踏襲してきた。

In 2007, during Abe’s first tenure as prime minister, he also stated: “(Japan) caused considerable damage and suffering to the people of Asian countries. … I offer deep remorse and express my heartfelt condolences to those who were killed.”
　第１次安倍内閣の０７年には首相自身も「アジア諸国の人々に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」「深い反省とともに、犠牲となった方々に謹んで哀悼の意を表す」と述べていた。

This time, “a pledge not to make war” that had been expressed in the past was not mentioned, either.
　今回は、これまで表明されてきた「不戦の誓い」という表現も使わなかった。

Aides to the prime minister say the memorial address reflects his intention that the ceremony is for the war dead, and that he mentioned consideration toward Asian nations in his responses to questions in the Diet.
　首相周辺は「式典は戦没者のため、という首相の意向を反映した」「アジアへの配慮は国会答弁でしている」という。

But such an expedient response is unacceptable. The ceremony also serves as an occasion to show Japan’s stance toward the war to the world. With the absence of wording about Japan’s responsibility for causing damage, Abe's speech could give the impression that Japan lacks consideration for the people of Asia.
　だが、そんな方便は通用しないのではないか。式典は、先の戦争への日本の姿勢を世界に発信する場でもある。加害責任への言及が消えたことで、アジアの人々への配慮を欠いていると受け取られかねない。

Even though the prime minister declined to visit Yasukuni, wasn’t he sending a message to the opposite effect?
　せっかく靖国参拝を見送りながら、逆のメッセージを発することにならないか。

What we find disturbing is the fact that the words that were not mentioned in Abe’s speech overlap with Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's 1995 statement that Japan “through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations.”
　気になるのは、式辞からなくなった言葉が、植民地支配と侵略によって「アジア諸国の人々に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」という９５年の村山首相談話の表現と重なることだ。

For a long time, Abe has shown an inclination toward re-examining the Murayama statement. If his memorial address reflects such intentions, there is no way we can accept it.
　首相はかねて村山談話の見直しに意欲を示している。そうした意図が今回の式辞に表れたとするなら、とうてい容認できるものではない。

Although the prime minister refrained from visiting Yasukuni Shrine, some members of his Cabinet, as well as a group of many lawmakers, visited the shrine.
　首相は見送ったが、きのうは一部の閣僚や国会議員が大挙して靖国神社に参拝した。

Without looking away from history, Japan needs to use its imagination to understand the pain of other countries. Such an attitude is what Japanese politicians need now more than ever.
　歴史から目をそらさず、他国の痛みに想像力を働かせる。こんな態度が、いまの日本政治には求められる。