The Warsaw Genuflection… 35 years ago

2005-08-25 GrievousLeave a comment

On July 12, 1970 German Chancellor Willy Brandt knelt before a ‘Warsaw Ghetto Uprising’ monument. His show of humility was a small but vital step in bridging the gaps World War II had left between Germany and Eastern Europe which eventually even most Germans came to see it as a courageous and honorable decision.When will Japan have the courage to do the same?

Nanking awaits…

A truth a day:	Japan was the only Axis power to employ biological and chemical weapons in combat during World War II.
每日一真相：	第二次世界大战中，唯有轴心国日本在战场上使用生物和化学武器。

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True Asian Heroes (I)

2005-08-23 GrievousLeave a comment

An Chung-gun (1879~1910)
An educator at the end of the Chosun Dynasty, a leader of patriotic soldiers and a martyr, An was exiled to Shanghai as soon as the Russia-Japan War broke out in 1904, but returned home the next year to encourage the spirit of national independence through education. Having established the Samheung School in Jinnampo in 1906 and taking over the Donui School in Nampo, An became engaged in the management of the school.
After starting a campaign against Japan in 1907, An assassinated Ito Hirobumi at Harbin Station, Manchuria in October 26, 1909. It is said that he impressed the Japanese judge and prosecutor through his dignified attitude and well-organized arguments. He was executed at Yosun Prison at 10:00 on March 26, 1910.
A false tomb was made at Hyochang Park to receive his remains, and a statue and memorial hall was constructed in Namsan dedicated to An Chung-gun.

Lee Bong-chang (1900~1932)A highly principled fighter of the national independence movement, he graduated from Yongsan Munchang General School. He went to Shanghai in 1931 to start out as a leader of the national independence movement. Recruited by Mr. Kim Ku as a member of the Korean Patriotic Society, he was the one who carried out the plan to assassinate the Hirohito. On January 8, 1932, when the Japanese emperor Hirohito was on his way back after a military parade at the Yoyoki Army Base, he threw a hand grenade at the Sakurata gate. The first hit the wrong carriage, but though the second was on target it was unfortunately a dud. Lee failed and was arrested on the spot.
He was executed on October 1932 at Ichigaya Prison. But his rise against the Japanese Empire lit up the nationwide independence movement. The Chinese Nationalist government organ reported, ‘Korean independence movement leader Lee Bongchang’s attempt to assassinate the Japanese Emperor unfortunately ended in failure’.
This strained the relationship between Japan and China and finally ignited the Shanghai Incident. His body is enshrined in the Three Righteous Men’s Grave inside Park Hyo-chang. (His birthplace is located at 118-1, Hyochang-dong).

Yun Bong-gil (1908~1932)
A patriot and a martyr, Yun Bong-gil was engaged in the reconstruction of rural communities, including campaigning for rural community enlightenment, rural community reconstruction and book-reading in 1926. Exiled to Manchuria in 1930, he went to Shanghai in 1931 to meet Kim Ku, the leader of the Korean Provisional Government, and participated in the national independence movement.
Joining the Korean Patriots Organization on April 26, 1932, Yun threw a bomb at the ceremonial place for the birthday of the Japanese Emperor, whereby no Chinese are allowed to attend, to kill Japanese soldiers, including the Commander of Japanese Forces in Shanghai. Yun was arrested at the site and taken to Japan to be executed by firing squad on December 19, 1932.
The Chinese in Shanghai were deeply appreciative of Yun’s heroic act and all ethnic Koreans in Shanghai were given free meals for a month.
His body was buried in the tomb at Hyochang Park for the three patriots. The epitaph for the tomb reads, ‘Here sleeps three martyrs who sacrificed their young lives for the national liberation. Their name, fidelity and spirit dedicated to the altar of the national independence will remain alive forever in every heart of Korean people.’

A truth a day:	Hirohito and the Imperial Japanese Forces killed 50 million Asians. After the war, Hitler is vilified as a demon; Hirohito remained Emperor.
每日一真相：	裕仁和日本蝗军杀害了五千万亚洲人。战后希特勒被誉为恶魔；裕仁仍然是日本天皇。

V-J Day – Japan Surrenders

2005-08-15 GrievousLeave a comment

At noon Japan standard time on this day 60 years ago, Emperor Hirohito’s announcement of Japan’s surrender and acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration was broadcast to the Japanese people via radio.

The final official surrender of Japan was accepted by General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 02-Sep-1945, and in City Hall, Singapore by Lord Admiral Louis Mountbatten on 12-Sep-1945.

In Remembrance of the Joyous Moment
02-Sep-1945: USS Missouri	12-Sep-1945: Municipal Hall, Singapore

Either way, it is my considered opinion that Japan has not fully complied with Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration: The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine. (‘We’ in this case refers to the U.S., France, China, Britain and Russia.)

Therefore, Japan should drop all its claims to China’s Diaoyutai Islands and Korea’s Dokdo, now, without further delay!

However, the Allies, especially the United States, have failed to execute Article 5 of the Potsdam Declaration with utmost diligence: There must be eliminated for all time the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest, for we insist that a new order of peace, security and justice will be impossible until irresponsible militarism is driven from the world.

How many of the wartime zaibatsus remain in operation today? For example, Mitsubishi? And what about that blasted Yakusuni Shrine? The U.S. should bear sole responsibility in the event of the resurgence of Japanese militarism.