Japan must correct its views

Japan should adopt a correct perception of its history of aggression against Asian countries to avoid losing its conscience again.

The international community came to a definite conclusion about those responsible for the fascist war. Unlike Japan, Germany, the other chief initiator of the war, has chosen to take responsibility for its wartime actions. It has also adopted legal measures to prevent fascism rising again. In sharp contrast, Japan has always wavered between right and wrong when it comes to this part of its history.

Their different perceptions of the war have led Germany and Japan down different paths. Germany has not only been reconciled with its former enemies, it has also been a main engine of European integration.