The 32nd Ordinary Regiment of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Omiya Garrison (Saitama City) used the term “Greater East Asia War” in a post on Ta. The government currently does not use this term in official documents. Regarding the Self-Defense Forces, it has become clear that senior leaders have been making group visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, leading some to point out that there is less remorse for the war.
Part of a post that describes “Iwo Jima, the biggest battleground of the Greater East Asia War” (screenshot from the official X account of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s 32nd General Regiment).This post was deleted on the 8th
◆Introducing the ceremony at Iwo Jima
In a post on the 5th, the unit introduced that they participated in the Japan-U.S. joint memorial ceremony for the war dead on Iwo Jima (Ogasawara Village, Tokyo) held at the end of last month. He described Iwo Jima as “the site of the greatest battle of the Greater East Asia War.”
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi pointed out at a press conference on the 8th, “Currently, the government generally does not use the term ‘Greater East Asia War’ in official documents.” On the 8th, the unit reposted a post introducing its participation in a ceremony at Iwo Jima, removing phrases such as “the site of the fiercest battle in the Greater East Asia War.”
New post on the night of the 8th (screenshot from the official X account of the Ground Self-Defense Force 32nd General Regiment)
Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Japanese government decided at a cabinet meeting to call the war the Greater East Asia War, based on the idea of liberating Asia from the West and establishing a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. After the war, the Allied General Headquarters (GHQ) prohibited the use of the expression “Greater East Asia War” in official documents. The war fought by Japan in the Asia-Pacific region of World War II is commonly known as the “Pacific War.”
◆Is it a return to past historical views?
In January, 22 members of the Self-Defense Forces visited Yasukuni Shrine, including then Deputy Chief of Ground Staff Hiroki Kobayashi. On the 1st of this month, former naval commander Umio Otsuka was appointed chief priest of the shrine. Class A war criminals are enshrined at the same shrine.
Masatoshi Uchida, a lawyer who is knowledgeable about postwar reparations issues, points out, “Behind the term ‘Greater East Asia War’ is a historical perspective that holds that all wars fought by Japan since modern times were justified.” Yasukuni Shrine upholds such a historical view, and he said, “I am concerned that the Self-Defense Forces may return to that historical view because of the visits by senior officials and the use of the phrase ‘Greater East Asia War.” (Yu Nakazawa)
(Added on April 8, 2024 at 10:12 p.m. The article, image, image description, etc. have been revised as the official X account of the Ground Self-Defense Force 32nd General Regiment deleted a post and added a new post.) Did)
2024-04-08 12:43:00
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