Over 30 Million Dead... Japan Self-Defense Forces Revive War-Glorifying 'Daidong-a'

Use of 'Daedong-A War' Instead of 'Pacific War'
Term Reflects Intent to Justify Colonial Rule and Aggressive War

A unit belonging to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has sparked controversy by officially referring to the Pacific War as the "Greater East Asia War" on social media (SNS). The term Greater East Asia War reflects imperial Japan's perception that the Empire of Japan fought against Western powers, serving as a glorifying term intended to justify colonial rule and aggressive warfare.

On the 7th, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported that the 32nd Infantry Regiment of the Ground Self-Defense Force posted on X (formerly Twitter) on the 5th, stating, "Members of the 32nd Regiment participated in the joint memorial service for the war dead of Japan and the United States held at Iwo Jima, the site of the greatest battle of the Greater East Asia War." The regiment also posted images of the event with the Japanese Rising Sun Flag and the U.S. Stars and Stripes held side by side, saying, "We pray for the souls of the war dead of both Japan and the United States who gave their precious lives for their homeland." The regiment reportedly declined to comment on their use of the term "Greater East Asia War" instead of the Pacific War.

The term 'Greater East Asia War' (大東亞戰爭) used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force unit. [Image source=Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 32nd Infantry Regiment X]

The term Greater East Asia War is a "taboo word" that even the Japanese government does not use in official documents, as it is a representative term that glorifies the Pacific War, an aggressive war. In 1940, Japan announced a diplomatic policy to "establish the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" under the pretext of liberating Asia from Western powers. In December 1941, the Cabinet decided to refer to the Pacific War as the "Greater East Asia War." However, after Japan's defeat, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ), which occupied Japan, banned the use of the term Greater East Asia War in official documents. Except for far-right figures, most politicians, media, and textbooks use the terms Pacific War or World War II instead of Greater East Asia War.

The Pacific War, which lasted for three and a half years, resulted in up to 36 million deaths, accounting for half of the total casualties of World War II, with an estimated 30 million of those being civilian deaths.