Interesting article from The Age, an Australian journal. Topic is Japan’s denial of its brutality toward its enemies in World War 2. Not just the Chinese but other Allies.

Seems the U.S. might have influenced, rather downplayed, those guilty of warcrimes because Gen. MacArthur let 900 of them go. This goes hand-in-hand with the German (and former Nazi) scientists who were promised a new life working for the U.S. military.

A short excerpt after the jump.

At the end of World War II, influential groups of Japanese intellectuals wanted Hirohito tried for war crimes, but were turned down by the US-installed ruler, General Douglas MacArthur. He freed close to 900 war criminals before they were brought to trial.

It is an exaggeration to say the views expressed and the symbolism of Yasukuni are endorsed by all Japanese. In fact MacArthur’s haste to stabilise Japan after the war left not only Hirohito in power, but bureaucrats who had faithfully served the wartime government remained entrenched in influential positions. They may have felt “remorse and regret” about the past, but believed their actions had never been bad enough to warrant punishment.

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