慰安婦問題 NY総領事は沈黙
３月１９日付産経新聞は、米下院で審議中の慰安婦問題について、米リベラル系マスメディアの対日批判が相次ぐ中、ニューヨーク総領事は反論投稿を行なわないという消極的姿勢を示していることを報じました。
在米日本大使館はWebsiteで反論を掲載し、およびボストンとロサンゼルスの総領事館は、ボストン・グローブとロサンゼルス・タイムズに反論投稿が掲載しています。事実関係について、徹底的に反論するという姿勢でないのが物足りません。しかしそれ以上に、ＮＹ総領事の姿勢には疑問を感じます。
ロサンゼルスの総領事の後に掲載されているIKE VAN GANG氏の投稿の方が説得力があるように思います。日本の民間人を空爆や原爆によって大量に殺戮したことで、アメリカ大統領は何千回も謝罪すべきなのではないか？ しかしそれは日米両国にとって有益ではないので、日本人はそのことを問題にしない。６０年以上も前のことである、というわけである。
在米日本大使館
ロサンゼルス総領事の反論
Japan has atoned for transgressions
Re "The shame Japan can't dodge," Opinion, March 6
Let me set the record straight.
In 1993, the government of Japan acknowledged the involvement of former Japanese military authorities in the "comfort women" issue and expressed apologies and remorse to those who endured immeasurable pain and incurable wounds.
In 1995, the Asian Women's Fund, which extended payments to women as a form of atonement and implemented medical and welfare projects, was established with the cooperation of the government and the Japanese people.
Since then, payments have been accompanied by letters from prime ministers saying: "We must not evade the weight of the past, nor should we evade our responsibilities for the future. I believe that our country, painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of apology and remorse, should face up squarely to its past history and accurately convey it to future generations."
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that there has been no change in the position of the government of Japan.
KAZUO KODAMA
Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles
Re "Paging the emperor," editorial, March 7
Should the president of the United States apologize to the Japanese for the atomic bombs dropped on civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a fire raid on downtown Tokyo that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians? Don't you think these are crimes against the human race? Of course they are. The president should apologize a thousand times, but the Japanese never bring up such issues against Americans. Why? Because such action will not be beneficial to either country, and besides, it happened more than 60 years ago.
IKE VAN GANG
Lake Oswego, Ore.
Let me set the record straight.
In 1993, the government of Japan acknowledged the involvement of former Japanese military authorities in the "comfort women" issue and expressed apologies and remorse to those who endured immeasurable pain and incurable wounds.
In 1995, the Asian Women's Fund, which extended payments to women as a form of atonement and implemented medical and welfare projects, was established with the cooperation of the government and the Japanese people.
Since then, payments have been accompanied by letters from prime ministers saying: "We must not evade the weight of the past, nor should we evade our responsibilities for the future. I believe that our country, painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of apology and remorse, should face up squarely to its past history and accurately convey it to future generations."
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that there has been no change in the position of the government of Japan.
KAZUO KODAMA
Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles
Re "Paging the emperor," editorial, March 7
Should the president of the United States apologize to the Japanese for the atomic bombs dropped on civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a fire raid on downtown Tokyo that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians? Don't you think these are crimes against the human race? Of course they are. The president should apologize a thousand times, but the Japanese never bring up such issues against Americans. Why? Because such action will not be beneficial to either country, and besides, it happened more than 60 years ago.
IKE VAN GANG
Lake Oswego, Ore.
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