Japan should learn from Germany on reflecting on history, as Chinese scholars indicated when comparing the two countries’ entirely different attitudes towards the shameful episode in the wartime past.

During her visit to Japan in early March, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reminded Japan to “confront history squarely” three times. Remaining silent all along, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida finally responded by resorting to chicanery.

For a long time, Japan’s right-wing forces have shirked wartime responsibilities and distorted historical facts about Japan’s atrocities in the World War II (WWII).

By contrast, Germany, which likewise inflicted untold sufferings under its Nazi regime, chose to reconcile with the international community with sincerity and practical action that advanced its reconciliation process.

Due to both sides’ contrasting relationships with history, Germany has long been “back on its feet” while Japan is “still on bended knees,” said scholars.

Sun Lixiang, a professor from the History School at Liaoning University, interpreted the striking difference in dealing with history from three aspects.

First, Germany has frankly admitted its role as an aggressor in WWII and its crimes, while Japan has sought to cover up its atrocities and distort facts.

Second, Germany has proactively complied factual history textbooks to educate the next generation to view WWII correctly, while Japan seeks all means to tamper history textbooks and deprive the next generation of access to the truth about history.

Third, Germany has taken the initiative to pay huge war reparations to victimized countries and people, while Japan denies the facts and refuses to make reparations.

“The fundamental difference is ascribed to the diametrically opposite recognitions and attitudes of the two sides towards the nature of their invasions and crimes of aggression,” said Tang Chongnan, a research fellow from the Center for Studies of Japanese History and Culture at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and honorary chairman of the China Japanese History Association.

In the postwar period, most Japanese prime ministers, cabinet members and politicians insisted on not introspecting over history and issuing apologies. Japanese conservatives even whitewash the war of aggression as “war of self-defense and liberation.”

However, disavowing fascist crimes and defending war criminals are severely punished in postwar Germany. According to Song Chengyou, a professor from the Department of History at Peking University, after WWII, Germany legislated against the war of aggression staged by the Nazis while pondering on historical lessons of the Holocaust.

In 1994, the German parliament passed the Anti-Nazi and Anti-Criminal Law, stipulating that those sympathizing with the Nazis and negating the Nazi genocide shall be sentenced to three to five years in jail.

On the contrary, Japanese right-wingers have perpetuated their denial and distortion of wartime history for half a century and become even more well-grounded.

 

There are also vast differences in history education of the public in the two countries. Song said that Germany has included reflections on Nazism in history textbooks and set up monuments, document centers and museums in memory of victims of the Holocaust throughout the country.

On the other hand, Japanese right-wing history textbooks, which deny aggression and falsify history, have posed diplomatic problems from time to time. The Yasukuni Shrine as well as countrywide cenotaphs, monuments and bronze statues that eulogize militarists’ “achievements” continue to echo the rotten “Imperial Japan.”

Sun attributed the contrast between Japan and Germany in their conceptions of history to culture and religious beliefs.

Having nurtured numerous giants of thought such as Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831) and Karl Marx (1818-83), German intellectuals are “more calm and prudent” in reflecting on what their nation went through in the past. One of the doctrines embraced by German Christians is the “sin-confession-redemption” trilogy, which requires sinners to atone by confessing and seeking redemption.
 

The Japanese, however, are in favor of the “shame-based culture,” regarding “confession” and “apology” as shames. They are convinced that the will of the Mikado is faultless, so there is no reason to show repentance.
 

2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. “At this critical moment, this year, there is both a test and an opportunity for the China-Japan relationship,” stated Chinese Premier Li Keqiang when he met the press after the closing meeting of the third annual session of the 12th National People’s Congress on March 15.

 

Tang Hongli is a reporter at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.