The Historical Science Society of Japan has denounced Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s statement released last month upon the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
In a statement issued on Monday, the leading organization of Japanese historians noted that Abe’s statement said Japan realized modernization and maintained independence amid fears of becoming subject to Western colonialism in the 19th century.
The organization said, however, that the statement ignored the fact that Japan violated Korea’s sovereignty and colonized Taiwan.
On the Russo–Japanese War, the historians said Japan violated the human rights in countries that were not involved in the war, adding that Japan disregarded Korea’s declaration of neutrality and forced Seoul to sign the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1904.
The historians said Abe’s statement did not mention such facts and gave the impression that the responsibility for colonialism lies originally in Western countries, thus seeking to dilute Japan’s responsibility.
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