Tilting Toward Right

Tokyo Governor's Remarks Revive Specter of Colonialism

Koreans have become infuriated once again by Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, who said Tuesday that North Korea would be best taken over by China, allowing the communist state to collapse peacefully. It is not surprising that the outspoken governor made such irrational and irresponsible remarks, considering his track record of verbal provocation.

The real problem is how a series of Ishihara's controversial remarks have been tolerated in Japanese society. It is regrettable that he has continued to enjoy popularity among Japanese citizens despite his distorted views of history and other sensitive issues, including Japan's wartime atrocities. Ishihara, 76, is a novelist-turned governor who is serving his third term.

He has already been criticized for claiming that the Nanjing Massacre was a story fabricated by the Chinese. Ishihara really went too far in saying that Korea was annexed by Japan in the early 20th century because Koreans wanted it. He even urged the Japanese government to amend or scrap the postwar pacifist Constitution in order to establish a greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere. His remarks have reminded Koreans and other Asian people of the specter of Japan's imperialism and militarism, which culminated during World War II.

Ishihara made the latest remarks while issuing a statement, as chairman of a governors' group, to North Korea, demanding a prompt reinvestigation of the abductions of Japanese citizens. ``The easiest way to resolve problems with North Korea is for it to be integrated into China,'' he said. ``This would be the easiest way, even for the United States … I wouldn't imagine that China would object, although there might be some opposition from South Korea.''

There is no doubt that Ishihara is riding the wave of Japanese society's tilt toward the right. A growing number of rightwing politicians, bureaucrats, scholars and citizens are raising their voices to gloss over their disgraceful history of aggression. They are not only trying to justify Japan's past brutality but revive its militarism.

Of course, there are not a few conscientious intellectuals and noted figures who reflect on the shameful history of Japan. But they have been rapidly losing ground due to the surging forces of right-wingers. The younger generation in Japan is becoming more nationalistic and oblivious to the archipelago's past misdeeds and war crimes against humanity. True reconciliation and friendship between Japan and other Asian countries seems to be a remote possibility.

Unquestionably, Gov. Ishihara has just become a symbol of arrogance and ignorance. We still remember Gen. Toshio Tamogami, former chief of staff of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, who was sacked last November for claiming in his award-winning essay that it was false to say that Japan was an aggressor nation. He said Japan's military actions in China were based on treaties. He even argued that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because of a trap by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and that many Asian countries take a positive view of Japan's role in the war.

We hope that the international community will take united action to stop Ishihara, Tamogami and other hawkish rightwing figures from justifying the war of aggression and trying to turning the clock back to colonialism and militarism.