ying its wholesale massacres and thieving by its moronic hordes, the Japanese Government officials hide behind their bland smiles and polite bows and think 'Japan Number One, other countries Number Ten'. No other nation in the world imposes such a distorted view of history on its schoolchildren. For over fifty years, Japan has denied its abuses of Human Rights and refuses to pay any compensation to its victims, especially the survivors of its 250,000 sex slave program. (At this moment a few survivors are fighting for compensation in the Japanese courts) Until Japan faces up to its responsibilities, civilized nations everywhere must regard it with suspicion at best and contempt at worst. At the Nuremberg War Crimes trial, Hans Frank said "A thousand years will pass and still this guilt of Germany will not have been erased". In Japan's case however, it may take a little longer.
However, a citizens group in the Japanese city of Kyoto, have erected a 'Monument of Apology and Friendship' in the city square of Calbayog, on the island of Samar in the Philippines. The city was occupied by the 16th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army during the war. The monument bears the inscription 'The citizens of Kyoto apologize for the invasion by the Army of the Emperor and pledge their friendship'. It is believed that this is the first time the Japanese have apologized for their actions during World War II.
The first written apology (to South Korea) was presented by the Japanese Prime Minister, Keizo Obuchi, on October 9, 1998, to South Korean President Kim Dae-jung ... 53 years after the war ended!.
Founded in 1881 it became a power in its own right. Originally known as the Military Police of Japan they were torturers par excellence. During World War II, there were around 75,000 members who brought unspeakable terror to all countries occupied by Japan. The Kempei Tai (Japanese counterpart of the Nazi Gestapo) was abolished on October 4, 1945 by the Allied Occupation Authorities. By February 1948, a total of 931 Japanese war criminals had been brought to trial by British military courts. Sentenced to death were 21 Kempetai for the murder of Malay civilians, and 8 others for the torture and murder of British prisoners of war. There methods of torture included burning with cigarettes and lighted candles, hot irons, boiling water and electric shocks to sensitive parts of the body, removal of finger and toe nails, flogging and water torture where the victim was forced to drink water till he lost consciousness. The water was then forced out by jumping on his abdomen. Suspension was another form of torture used where the victim was hung up by the arms or legs and left hanging till he confessed or died.
WAR CRIMES TRIALS (Pacific)
The Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal began on May 3, 1946, with twenty-eight defendants including fourteen generals, one Field Marshal and three Admirals. The trials were held in the old Japanese War Ministry building at the Ichigaya Garrison and ended on November 12, 1948. The trials lasted two years and ninety days and adjourned at 4.12pm on November 12, 1948. Altogether 314 cases were heard and 419 witnesses were called before before eleven Judges from eleven countries. Emperor Hirohito was granted immunity from prosecution, although all the evidence points to his implication in the planning of aggressive war. He was forced to renounce his divine status. President of the Tribunal was Sir William Webb of Australia. All defendants were found guilty. Prime Minister Tojo and five generals were hanged, sixteen others were sentenced to life imprisonment, six of whom died in prison. The executions took place in Sugamo Prison where the defendants were held, starting at one minute past midnight on Dcember 23, 1948. The bodies were then placed in wooden coffins and taken to Yokohama Municipal Crematorium for cremation. The ashes were then scattered to the four winds. All the others were released by April 1958.In other trials outside Tokyo (2,200 in all) conducted by the major Allies, more than 4,300 individuals were convicted of w