Japan and World War II reparations, is it time now?

Question

In the 1950s, when countries were discussing wartime reparations to be paid by Axis powers, it was decided that Japan was not economically in a position to pay wartime reparations for war crimes committed by the Japanese Army during WWII.
Examples, The Rape of Nanking, the treatment of Allied POWs in South East Asia, and so on.
During the 1950s, Japan was definitely unable to offer reparations, Well, there is no contesting that Japan is now in a position to do so. Bear in mind that this question is not aimed at the current Japanese Government, but that Japan as a country should face up to its past. The Germans did so, and with no adverse effects.

Being nuked does not make everything alright.

Answer 1

War reparations refer to the monetary compensation intended to cover damage or injury during a war. Generally, the term war reparations refers to money or goods changing hands, rather than such property transfers as the annexation of land.

Post-World War II, according to the Treaty of Peace with Japan and the bilateral agreements Japan agreed to pay around 1 trillion and 30 billion yen. For countries that renounced any reparations from Japan, she agreed to pay indemnity and/or grants in accordance with bilateral agreements.

Japanese compensation paid to countries:
Country -- Amount in Yen -- Amount in US$
Burma 72,000,000,000 -- 200,000,000
Philippines 198,000,000,000 -- 550,000,000
Indonesia 80,388,000,000 -- 223,080,000
Vietnam 14,400,000,000 -- 38,000,000
Total ¥364,348,800,000 US$1,012,080,000

Transfer of Japanese overseas assets:
Country/region Value (Yen) Value (US Dollars)
Korea 70,256,000,000 -- 4,683,700,000
Taiwan 42,542,000,000 -- 2,846,100,000
North East China 146,532,000,000 -- 9,768,800,000
North China 55,437,000,000 -- 3,695,800,000
Central South China 36,718,000,000 -- 2,447,900,000
Others 28,014,000,000 -- 1,867,600,000
Total ¥379,499,000,000 -- $25,300,000,000

When Japan normalized relations with mainland China in 1972, Mao Zedong waived additional Japanese reparations for WWII (see Article 5 of Sino-Japanese Joint Statement in 1972).

Japan has formally issued statements of regret for its military occupations during and before World War II but it has done little in helping to improve her relationships with neighboring countries, especially the People's Republic of China, the People's Democratic Republic of Korea and South Korea. Despite the formal statements of regret from Prime Ministers Hosokawa Morihiro and Murayama Tomiichi, these countries still insist that Japan has yet to formally express remorse for its wrongdoings in the 20th century. In regards to the statements however, it is more of a debate about compensation and war reparations than over the symbolic nature of words and acknowledgments of wrongdoing and regret. Japan’s official stance is that all war related reparation claims have been resolved (except for North Korea).

The main criticisms of war reparations have historically been:

-- that they are punitive measures against the populace of the losing side only, rather than against the belligerent side, which may be the side that justly ought to make amends
-- that in very many instances, the defeated populace's government waged war, and the people themselves had little or no role in deciding to wage war, and therefore war reparations are imposed on innocent people
-- that after years or years of war, the populace of the losing side is likely already impoverished, and the imposition of war reparations therefore may drive the people into deeper poverty, both fueling long-term resentment of the victor and making the actual payments unlikely

The most important words of criticism came from John Maynard Keynes. He claimed that overall influence on the world economy would have been disastrous.

Some critics hold that war reparations were an indirect, but major, cause of World War II. After the end of World War I, the 1919 Treaty of Versailles imposed heavy war reparations upon Germany. These reparations payments exacerbated German economic problems, and the resulting hyperinflation ruined the chances of the Weimar Republic with the public, and allowed the rise of the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler. Others point to the fact, that post-World War II reparations were calculated on basis of the damages caused by Germans during World War I. After Franco-Prussian war, reparations amount was set to fixed value. Moreover, post-World War I amount were subject to frequent recalculations, that encouraged Germany to obstruct payments. Eventually, all payments was agreed to be stopped after Hitler got in power.

The bad experience of the post-World War I reparations led to the post-World War II solution, where winning powers were supposed to take reparations in machines and movable goods from the defeated nations, as opposed to money.

Answer 2

This is an interesting, and recurrent point... and I think it's probably right that there should be a public apology for Japanese behaviour in WWII, as well as the preceding Sino-Japanese conflict. It would mean a lot, and help to calm animosity against the Japanese in Asia... I mean, it's not too severe, but it would still mean a lot. Some Chinese for example still consider that the Japanese are no better than animals, and that's just not true.

Just for the record though, my father was a Japanese POW after being captured at Singapore... in his life he was never compensated, but I have received a scholarship opportunity in Japan, and my mother has received a largeish cash payout, which was well received. The most important thing for me is that I know dad forgave his former captor after the war, and even met and talked with some of them. Some of the experiences he lived through were horrific, and he had terrors in the night for years after coming home. If he could forgive, that's enough for me. It's true though, Japan could do more to recognise its negative role in Asia 1931-45. At the same time, who in Japan will lead this if not the government? It needs to be official apologies and reparations if at all... I think there are some Japanese NPOs that try to deal with war guilt, but I get the feeling that they aren't making much headway. Germany faced up to it's past so effectively because German kids studied the Nazi past in school... it doesn't happen in Japan in the same way, and it'll take an active, liberal government to change that.

Answer 3

You know, Charelle, The United States SAVED France's rear end and freed it after the Nazis once again brought France to her knees in WWII. We still are smarting from that mistake considering how the French have treated Americans ever since. Gratitude if just not in the vocabulary of the French!!

Japan should indeed be held responsible and should now make reparations for their criminal actions during WWII. However, I think too much time has passed for them to consider doing so. Another example of America rebuilding a country which attacked them in war. Where else in history has that happened? NOWHERE!!

Chow!!

Answer 4

No. In fact this is still a point of dispute with China, Korea and Japan. Only recently did Japan admit and somewhat apologize for the use of "comfort women" during WW2. Many of these women have had long term law suits against Japan for compensation for the time they sent acting as forced prostitutes for the Japanese armed forces. The Japanese troops had to pay for this service and instead of the women getting paid the Japanese government received the money. I do not foresee a settlement to this issue for nature is resolving it.

Answer 5

First of all Cherelle has got to be a nazi sympathizer. To blame the war in France to free those people from Hitler on the USA and Canada is about the most unintelligent answer I've ever read in here. You didn't even mention the German occupation!! My grandfather parachuted onto Omaha Beach on D-day watching his friends and fellow allies getting killed around him, to me that was the most honorable and heroic acheivement anyone in my family ever accomplished.

As for the question, reparations are not the answer. To blame the modern japanese populace for the war crimes of a tyrant like Hirohito and his Shinto religion makes no more sense than blaming all white people in this county for slavery and expecting them to pay for it monetarily.

Answer 6

That is part of why Japan only has a armed forces of Defense and intelligence. Maybe we should make Germany follow that rule. Say look you went and tried to take over so you can't have an army anymore. Hey let's make Africa pay for the Slave labor as well. After all why should American companies pay when they BOUGHT the slaves from Africans.

Answer 7

The Japanese have never compensated the British and american POWs for all their suffering let alone paying for anything else.Furthermore, this government put a tax on the war widows pension when they were old enough to get the state pension as well.

Answer 8

With the exception of money paid to the State of Israel - what reperations do you think Germany paid? Japan has paid out some reperations to some groups like the comfort women http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women The reality is that this question is aimed at the current Japanese and its williness to pay. I think if China would like to bring suit against the government of Japan and can - I just don't think at this point that makes any sense.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 9

Your question seems more like a correct statement. The U.S. didn't start the war with Japan, they bombed us, sank many ships and destroyed many lives and famlies. When the Atom bomb was dropped on Japan, it was only months before they had one ready to drop themselves, they also had a jet fighter almost ready for use(working cooperative with Germany). Japan owes the world alot, they owe the U.S. After all we pampered them back to a free nation. If you recall even after WWII they still had plans to control the entire world.

Answer 10

What you have is massive guilt on both sides , and as Japan is now a world power , they can do as they like , and they like not to pay . although they have made some small inadiquit payments to the POWs most of them are dead so its of little concequence now

Answer 11

as i see it once world war 2 eneded it was the american government that owed reperations to japan for all the deaths and sickness and ill health the american goverment brought to the japanese people wiht the bombing of ioroshima and nagasaki as i see it the american goverment of the time sunk even lower then the nazi germans of the time over the whole bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki but thats jsut my thougths on the matter