By Jun Ji-hye
Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama professed a sense of shame Wednesday over remarks made by some of his compatriots denying his country’s historical misdeeds.
“They are very shameful,” the 90-year-old former leader of Japan’s Social Democratic Party said in a speech at the National Assembly.
“But I want to stress, most Japanese are well aware of what we did,” said the elder statesman who, as premier, apologized in 1995 to the victims of Japanese atrocities during World War II. That year marked the 50th anniversary of the surrender of imperial Japan to the Allied forces.
Current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party is stirring up nationalistic sentiment, trying to gloss over Japan’s dark chapter in history and avoiding the responsibility that comes with it.
In one of a series of provocative acts, Abe recently visited the Yasukuni Shrine where 14 Class-A war criminals are enshrined. His “friends” have also denied the atrocities Japan committed.
NHK President Katsuto Momii recently said, “The practice of comfort women was common in any country that was at war, including France and Germany.”
“Comfort women” was the term used by Japan for women from Korea and other occupied regions who were forced into sexual servitude.
“It’s a gross fault,” Murayama said.
“Recent strained relations between the two nations are very regrettable. The two sides should set up future-oriented ties,” he said.
“Abe earlier expressed his will to do so. I believe he will live up to what he said,” said Murayama, adding that will be what the Japanese people want.
Murayama also asked politicians in both countries to respect the Korea-Japan joint statement issued by former President Kim Dae-jung and former Prime Minister Obuchi Keizo in 1998.
“In accordance with the spirit of the joint statement, they will have to refrain from issuing controversial remarks against each other to move forward to a better future,” he said.
Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party; Rep. Jun Byung-hun, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party; and independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo attended the speech, calling on the neighboring country to admit its imperial misdeeds to establish peace in Northeast Asia.