How Was Ishiba's War End Anniversary Speech a Dud? Let Us Count the Ways

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It was a lackluster report void of any outstanding insights or new points of view. That best characterizes outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's personal statement on the Pacific War. He titled it, "On the 80th anniversary of the end of the war."

Ishiba said he wrote his statement to address the question, "Why we could not have avoided the war."

Ishiba's List

The following are some of the reasons Ishiba cited for Japan's rush into what he called a "reckless war."

Ignoring the conclusions reached in research conducted by the Total War Research Institute, established by the Cabinet in 1940. The institute concluded that a war with the United States would "inevitably result in Japan's defeat."
Independence of "supreme command" under the Meiji Constitution.
Declining control by the government and the National Diet.
Assassinations of politicians by young "ultranationalists and young military officers."
And the support by the Japan e se media for war.

All these issues had existed since earlier in the Showa Period, which began in 1926. Anyone with an interest in history or politics has heard this story many times before. So it is difficult to fathom why Prime Minister Ishiba thought it had enough significance for a personal public statement.

Is a Personal Statement Appropriate?

The statement was not approved by the Cabinet. Nor did it embody the collective wisdom of a panel of experts. Emphatically, it was merely an expression of Prime Minister Ishiba's own opinions.

Ten years ago, on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a statement designed to relieve future generations of Japanese of the burden of continuing to apologize for Japan's past actions. Fortunately, at least there was no language in Ishiba's personal statement that contradicted Abe's message.

*Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Diet on March 25, 2022 (©Sankei by Yasuhiro Yajima.)*

There was admittedly considerable concern that Ishiba's statement marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war would be used as a "history card" by China, South Korea, and other countries. Had that happened, it could have once again enmeshed Japan in an endless loop of apologies.

Concerns were raised from various quarters, and those who voiced their objections are to be commended.

What Ishiba Missed

While it lacked new insights, Ishiba's statement was also inadequate in other respects.

First, it failed to consider Japan's antagonists in the war and its international relations at the time. The statement ignored the history of how, before the war on the continent, Japanese nationals were the targets of boycotts. More than a few were even killed or injured while engaging in legitimate economic and other activities guaranteed under treaties.

Before the war, with the exception of a handful of countries like Japan and Thailand, people of color suffered under the colonial rule of Western countries. Ishiba also missed making this point.

*Treaty of Versailles negotiations (public domain via Wikimedia)*

In his statement, Ishiba called on politicians to learn from history. They must strive to properly apply the current civilian control system, he stated. He also expressed his hope that the Diet and the media would play a role in preventing the government from making wrong decisions.

However, if he truly believed that, Prime Minister Ishiba should have directly called for the establishment of a self-defense justice system and military courts to regulate the Self-Defense Forces and protect democracy.

Likewise, if he truly values the role of the Diet, as he states, he should have reflected on the damage he himself caused Japan's constitutional political system. Instead, he disregarded the will of the people in national elections and attempted to extend his term as prime minister.

Ultimately, Ishiba would do well to ponder deeply on his own errors. After leaving the prime minister's office, perhaps he will compile a detailed statement about where he went wrong and offer it for public reaction.

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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