Japan - unpredictable histories

This year sees the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and will see, as ever, the past drafted in to support today's conflicts. Japan especially may have reason to fear an uncomfortable year. Some journalists are already mulling over the prospect of ex-colonies in Asia taking the chance to complain of the lack of public Japanese contrition. With hindsight it's now possible to say Japan's post-war policy of providing very large amounts of aid to it's neighbours, like China and Korea, but not making the same sort of public apologies some ex-axis powers have, e.g. Germany, has left a massive hostage to fortune. The Chinese or South Korean governments now have the chance to focus public attention on this omission without mentioning how many airports or roads were funded by Japan. more from the Asahi Shimbun... Why they should want to do this is another question.