Japanese Media: "Those Who Step on Others' Feet Do Not Understand the Pain of Being Stepped On... Need to Be Humble About Japan's History"

'Mention of Forced Labor Distortion' at Industrial Heritage Information Center... "Japan's One-Sided Historical View Also Evident in Recent Korea-Japan Relations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Japanese media commented that Japan should reflect on the pain it caused Korea and adopt a humble attitude before history in order to resolve the Korea-Japan conflict surrounding the forced labor issue during the Japanese colonial period.

On the 11th, the Tokyo Shimbun published an editorial titled "Let Us Not Forget the Shadows of History," stating, "Every country's history has both light and shadow. However, it seems that in Japan, there is an increasing tendency to speak only of the shining parts."

The Tokyo Shimbun referred to the postwar 70th anniversary statement (Abe Statement) announced by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August 2015, which evaluated the Russo-Japanese War as having "given courage to many Asians and Africans under colonial rule." The newspaper viewed this as an example of ignoring the darker aspects of history, noting, "This war left deep wounds on Japan and neighboring countries." The Russo-Japanese War was the event that led to Japan's colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula.

The Tokyo Shimbun said, "Such a one-sided view of history is also evident in recent Korea-Japan relations," and evaluated that the Japanese government's recent Industrial Heritage Information Center, opened in Tokyo to introduce modern industrial facilities registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites, has "caused controversy over its exhibition content." The newspaper introduced the case of Seo Jeong-woo, who was forcibly mobilized to Hashima (also known as Gunkanjima) at age 14 and later suffered atomic bomb damage in Nagasaki, stating, "All these diverse memories together constitute the island's history and value."

The Tokyo Shimbun also commented, "The twisted issue of former forced laborers between Korea and Japan is the same. The Japanese government says, 'The issue was resolved by the 1965 agreement,'" but added, "If Japan had shown empathy for the pain at that time instead of rejecting it on the grounds of laws or agreements, the situation might have been different." While acknowledging that "there are aspects in Korea's response that may be considered excessive," the newspaper urged Japan to first be humble before history.

Furthermore, the Tokyo Shimbun added, "It is said that the person who steps on another does not understand the pain of the one stepped on. Even after 75 years since the war, are we not still stepping on each other's feet over history? I want us to stop and reflect."