I once learned Japanese and German, and I also have been to Japan and Germany, so I can say I know a little more about the two countries than my common Chinese fellows.

From newspapers and TV, I know that German governments have done a lot for what their forefathers did during World War II: compensation, apology; they even paid the Soviet troops for them to withdraw from east Germany and set new camps in Russia, and even a then German chancellor knelt before victims’ gravestone! But Japan has not done as much as Germany for their aggression war.

I have long wondered why Japan did not bear war responsibilities as Germany did.

After analyzing various factors, I got my own answers for that. I think there are three reasons why Japan did not want to take enough responsibilities.

Firstly, national features. In comparison with western people, it is not easy for eastern nationalities (including Chinese and Korean) to admit their faults even they have made mistakes. Especially, it is true for Japanese, because they live on islands and are relatively narrow-minded. These features exist till now.

Secondly, international military and political situations. I want to say more about this factors. In Germany, Nazi power, an war machine, were destroyed completely, Hitler committed suicide, and Germany surrendered unconditionally, and “unconditionally” was authentic. The country and even its capital was divided into four parts for the four victors: US, UK, France and the Soviet Union. Since the end of the war, German governments has been implementing peaceful policies, and quenches various domestic activities related to Nazi.

But in Japan, the surrender was not unconditional! The Japanese government remained, the highest commander of Japanese military forces, Hirohito, was not tried and punished; Japan was occupied only by US troops, and many war criminals were released by US soon after the war ended and were employed for US’s cold war against the Soviet Union and its bloc. Japanese officials and common people were not taught enough! So many old soldiers and right-wing politicians don’t recognize their mistakes nowadays, and take many measures to deny or hide their past wrongdoings. Up till now, no Japanese prime ministers have visited Nanjing Victims Monument, which was established for 300,000 soldiers and civilians killed by Japanese troops.

Thirdly, domestic factors. The civil war occurred soon after the end of the War Against Japanese Aggression, and Kuomingtang released some Japanese officers to fight the Communist army. When the civil war ended, the Kuomingtang fled to Taiwan, but was determined to go back. China mainland was torn seriously by these wars. The Communist ruler also made some serious mistakes in 1950’s and 1960’s, leading China to become very weak economically. At the same period, there a war between China and US in Korea (this was costed China very much) and a small-scale war between China and the Soviet Union, so Communist China was weak economically and isolated internationally. When China asked Japan to cut its diplomatic relations with Taiway, China did not have few trumps in hands. It was naive to imagine that China had enough economic and military power to force Japan to take war responsibilities and that Japan would pay war compensation to China voluntarily. So I suppose that many Japanese politicians would think it was necessary to admit their crimes and to take mor responsibilities for their aggression war which too much to China.

The above is my opinions, just for your reference.