The Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead at Nippon Budokan, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on August 14. (©Sankei)
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In Japan, the word "peace" holds special reverence in August. Meanwhile, the word "war" is unequivocally condemned as an absolute evil.
This is because August marks the anniversaries of the two atomic bombings and Japan's defeat in World War II. It's a national custom to reflect on the devastation of conflict, the value of human life, and honor those who perished.
The United States, in contrast, attaches conditions such as freedom and independence to peace, viewing war as sometimes unavoidable in the name of defending justice and the nation.
Even when hearkening back to its war with Japan, Americans often celebrate their victory on the premise that wars are sometimes necessary. Seen from this juxtaposition, Japan's August "peace chorus" prompts a question: What of Japan's national security?
Empty Notion of Peace
The idea of peace invoked in Japan every August refers solely to the absence of war without examining its quality or substance. Most other nations, including the US, take for granted that the peace they pursue must be bound to the freedom and independence of both the state and its people.
For instance, when President Barack Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, he remarked, "For peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting."
Ho Chi Minh, who led Vietnam's revolutionary struggle to victory, frequently said that "there is nothing more precious than independence and freedom." He was determined to sacrifice peace in pursuit of independence and freedom for his nation.
On the other hand, Japan's conception of peace holds that as long as there is no war, all is well. By this logic, it rejects the necessity of war under any circumstances. Apply this "peace chorus" to present-day situations like Ukraine. It would mean leaving Russia free to occupy Ukrainian territory in its entirety.
Freedom is Not Free
Of course, peace is preferable to war at the individual level. Japan's "peace chorus" often leads even children to declare that war is utterly unacceptable. This can be understood in light of the human tragedy of Japan's loss in World War II.
That said, if denied the right to wage war in self-defense against foreign invasion, a nation will be forced to surrender without resistance.
Japan's "peace chorus" is troubling in this regard, as it offers no guidance on how to sustain peace or avert war. This is in stark contrast to the first Trump administration's National Security Strategy, which stated that the best way to prevent war is to prepare for war and maintain the "ability to fight and win across any plausible conflict that threatens US vital interests."
In other words, a country that projects assured victory, even when under imminent threat, deters any nation from daring to challenge it. Every country in the world maintains its military capabilities and resolve for self-defense. The idea is that such readiness discourages aggression and safeguards the peace — it's a policy of deterrence.
The Peace Trap
In Japan, people so often gather to chant "peace," seemingly from their hearts. Yet this does not guarantee anything, because true peace depends on Japan's relations with the outside world, not on conditions within its borders.
No matter how fervently Japanese citizens call for peace, it's ultimately external forces that hold the power to undermine it.
The excessive fixation on the word "peace" could thus compel Japan to abandon defending its homeland from the very outset. And what outcome could this bring, other than peril?
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Author: Yoshihisa Komori, Associate Correspondent in Washington, The Sankei Shimbun
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