Japanese Reacts to “How Do the Japanese Teach About WWII?”

What’s up, I’m Kuma!
Today, I’m gonna react to “How Do the Japanese Teach About WWII?” by Today I found out Channel!
I'm getting smarter these days!
Thank you for all the comments!!
🌎Original Video
• How Do the Japanese Te...
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🎵BGM (from KZbin Audio Library)
Play-Doh meets Dora - Carmen Maria and Edu Espinal
#Japanese
#reaction

[@user-tg9kj8qu7r]

こんにちは。日本人としてコメントします。 5:41 この一文、特に"One day, for no reason we ever understand"の部分、Kumaさんは小学校でこのように習ったと言いましたが、本当でしょうか？こんな教え方をしている教科書は見た事が無いですし、一般常識として、日本軍の真珠湾奇襲攻撃から広島、長崎での原爆投下までの大まかな流れはほとんどの日本人が知っていると思います。日本の歴史教育(日本軍の虐殺行為などについて)が悪い部分は確かにあると思いますが、指摘した文章は明確に間違いなので、ここは否定してもらわないと困ります！ Hello. As a Japanese, I would like to comment. 5:41 This sentence, especially the part "One day, for no reason we ever understand", is it true that you said you learned this in elementary school? I have never seen a textbook that teaches like this, and as a matter of general knowledge, I think most Japanese know the general sequence of events from the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese military to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I'm sure that there are parts of Japan's history education (regarding the massacres by the Japanese army, etc.) are bad, but the sentence I pointed out is clearly wrong, so you have to deny it here!

[@KumaCanJapan]

コメントありがとうございます！確かに！ここは過剰表現として突っ込むべきでした！

[@mikeykun5026]

that sentence was basically to give the gist of the situation of japnese textbooks about their atrocities

[@xyre8443]

I think the man use it in a metaphoric way, he wanted to interpret how it is taught that US bombed Japanese but it was never taught why is the actual reason the US has to do that.

[@alexzhang8318]

what abt the Nanjing massacre, what abt cutting pregnant women's bellies open for fun, what abt the human experiments, what abt the toxic gases, what abt burying civilians alive, what abt stepping on infants, piercing women's vagina with sticks and proping their bodies up after they die.

[@ddmddm7590]

@@KumaCanJapan Japan killed 23 millions chinese civilians between 1937 and 1945 ! You should learn about "Nanjing Massacre" and about "Unit 731".

[@lamia197]

I'll say this as a Korean. We don't care about the apology, it means nothing, we were fooled too many times. We want Japan to acknowledge and teach about it. Almost all Japanese-Korean problems from the trade wars to Sea of Japan/East Sea starts here. People think acknowledging their country's atrocities is shameful. I say the opposite, it is the correct thing and very respectable thing to do. You are respectable and you are great. It is brave to face the shameful history of your country and acknowldge it.

[@igortytarenko9136]

@@walker4376 you haven't read what he wrote, have you? It is not about accusing younger generations. It is about acknowledgment. We have to know history to not repeat mistakes of the past! I don't think that young Germans should be ashamed of past of their country, neither Japanize, be everybody should know the history!

[@JHg-ys4mj]

@@walker4376 Do you know what sort of people says those kind of words you just said? Serial killers standing in front of a court.

[@Jason-er1vf]

Agreed, as an American we are only recently starting to acknowledge the atrocities committed against native americans and already trying to right the ship narratively. Though with how divided our government is, it'll be a long process.

[@plorabare]

@@Jason-er1vf At least the US doesn't have a one party system

[@shorthopdoublelasers4168]

But didn't the Korean army rape and massacre a bunch of Vietnamese civilians during the Vietnam war? Were you taught about that in school? Japan's atrocities during WWII is obviously worse but countries generally don't like to talk about their past mistakes. It's not just a Japan-only thing.

[@injanhoi1]

I spoke with a Japanese man in his 70s once at a family restaurant. He brought up the subject of WW2 to my surprise. He was very critical of the Japanese education system and that WW2 isn't taught properly so consequently many Japanese know little about the facts. There is nothing to lose from learning about the dark side of your country. There is a gain which is not to do something like that again.

[@wyattmund9286]

There actually was a strong tradition of Japanese pacifists, anti-imperialists and others from both before and after the fall of the Empire of Japan. Many protester and were imprisoned/executed in the Imperial age, and many were also creatives. A lot of those generations though have grown old and passed away. Some of the old wave of anime/manga too were part of it - like Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahats, the author of Barefoot Gen - which dealt with the horror of the atomic bombings, while also being fiercely critical of Imperial Japan and its horrible militarism.

[@janlee3776]

My experience was the opposite. I spoke to a Japanese man in his 70s at the okonomiyaka restaurant he owns. I told him i'm from Singapore, and he responded 'oh yes I heard about that country, it's where many of our Japanese soldiers died."....🙄

[@rapatacush3]

Laughs in mexican since every side is the dark side in mexico

[@tonyliu6749]

Now there is a man I can respect. My grandfather was basically a child soldier in the Chinese army during ww2 after half of his family died to the Japanese invaders. But then he told me this story of this one Japanese soldier who smuggled rations and ammunition to my grandpa's unit because he secretly hated everything his countrymen were doing. The guy was caught and killed by his own army, from what my grandfather told me.

[@HolyknightVader999]

That man you spoke of is a man of true honor. Too bad that he seems to be in the minority among the elder Japanese.

[@paullooper1090]

No, you didnt learn the Bad side of WWII, you learned the Truth of WWII

[@thenexus8384]

I'd say they're one in the same since there isn't really any "good" side when it comes to war Look at what the unionists did during the American Civil War, yes they were the "right" and "good" side in the war (and this is coming from a born and raised Texan) but they weren't perfect and sure as hell weren't clean even in comparison to the Confederates

[@byronhamilton8021]

@@thenexus8384 the good side to war is stopping the badguy. japan is the badguy.

[@panther7748]

Speaking as a German, I think that the key difference between Germany and Japan (in this particular area) is that Germany was actually invaded by all the allied powers and Japan wasn't. The front line actually rolled over all parts of the country and Nazi Germany wasn't just forced to surrender, it seized to exist. Between 1945 and 1949, there was no german state and all tasks of government were carried out by the Allies. Unlike in other countries (like Japan or Italy), 1945 was a major turning point in German history. Also, because Germany remained divided between the democratic West and the communist East from 1949 to 1990, there wasn't just one german perspective about history.

[@christinedeshano2872]

I swear, I don't work for the guy, but Simon did a video about how the war is taught in Germany too.

[@dunbar9finger]

I think the point Simon mentions in passing is important too - Germany was a previously democratic country that mutated into something awful. This means when occupying powers forced it to adopt a democratic government, the idea could be presented to the German people as "we're healing your country by putting it back to the way it was.". You can't do that in Japan where their aggression wasn't preceded by a massive shift in government style. The system was the same as it always had been. In Japan the government the occupiers wanted to install really was something foreign to the Japanese. The emperor sticking around was a chance to have some national identity the people could hold onto when everything else that defined the nation was being forcibly changed. It's important to make the occupied countries see the new government as "us" and not as "them", or else there's a revolution that overthrows it the instant the occupation ends.

[@jamesdakrn]

And of course, the '68 movement really made a lot of young postwar Germans to rethink its past, while in Japan the Zenkyoto (org. of student activists in the late 60s in Japan) ultimately failed to do so. And while the CDU was the main ruling party in W. Germany and later Unified Germany, the Social Democrats still took power at certain points, and it was Willy Brandt who really engaged with the German past by kneeling at the Warsaw Memorial.

[@tomfrazier1103]

@@dunbar9finger Japanese governments before 1931 were trending democratic. Elements in the Army used flaws in the 1890 "Meiji Constitution" to foment "Incidents". They were answerable to the Emperor only, not civilian government. A wave of assassinations by "Young offiicers" marked the era, and being Prime Minister of Japan was a high risk occupation.

[@thegringoscottproductions1699]

Speaking as an American, we were taught that Japan was governed by the United States for 7 years after the war. Here is a quote from that: " The occupation of Japan by the Allied Powers started in August 1945 and ended in April 1952. General MacArthur was its first Supreme Commander. The whole operation was mainly carried out by the United States."

[@ericjiang7986]

As a Chinese, my grandfather always have a habit of cursing Japanese, it may sound awful but it is understable. Everytime he sees things related to Japanese, he is outraged.

[@user-uu5xf5xc2b]

he is ruining himself that way

[@QueenofAwkwardness]

Well, some absolutely abhorrent things were done to the Chinese by the Japanese historically. Nanjing comes to mind. And I have noticed older people are stuck in the mentality of their formative years. I'm sure we will be too when we get old. Just have patience with your grandfather and allow some grace. Shake your head, laugh it off, and be grateful we were not raised in that mentality.

[@juliemcgugan1244]

@@QueenofAwkwardness Yes, it is not the people he is cursing, really. It is the act that was done to him. Many of the older generation were harmed in a way that continues to scar them. Telling them not to have these thoughts and keep that hurt inside is, in a way, re-victimizing them. And they deserve better than that from their own people/family. You have to have more understanding for them. They are not in a place mentally where they can forget/move past this hurt.

[@Douglas768]

@@user-uu5xf5xc2b well if ur family members got brutally killed by the Japanese im sure u would feel different but just forgive and forget right🤡

[@saulgoodman4597]

@@user-uu5xf5xc2b of course the anime profile picture is the one trying to defend japan.

[@jackiealmasy7948]

Learning about the dark side of our home countries is incredibly hard. I'm currently reading about the forced residential schools of the Indigenous People. I've had to put the book down multiple times from crying and sheer horror. I applaud you for taking the steps to educate yourself.

[@apomtaylor8054]

You're probably Canadian?

[@boorex4203]

@@apomtaylor8054 they did that in the USA alot too.

[@poppy63765]

@@boorex4203 Yes but it's not taught in Canada and Australia

[@blubberfeet5430]

@@poppy63765 it's starting to. And I was beyond furious. Like seeing red furious. I swear one day all this pain and suffering will bite humanity so hard in the ass there won't be an ass left

[@poppy63765]

@@blubberfeet5430 probably g

[@clivedoe9674]

This is the only video on KZbin that I've found of a Japanese person watching a western recounting of WW2 Japan.

[@fender7695]

Western. Sure. But truthful would have been a better phrase.

[@jacobtaylor161]

What’s crazy is is this video doesn’t even crack the surface of how brutal the Japanese military was.

[@rudeegruenberg9184]

every military has its own brutal take it or leave it

[@Baldwin-iv445]

At least most aren't guilty of cannibalism.

[@Free_Palestine_419]

@@Baldwin-iv445 Chinese Red Guard Students were notorious were eating people during the Cultural Revolution hypocrite!

[@Free_Palestine_419]

@A ROBOT WITH 20 M16S FROM AUSTIN Chinese Red Guard Students were notorious were eating people during the Cultural Revolution hypocrite!

[@Baldwin-iv445]

@@Free_Palestine_419 Keyword most. Also, seriously? Freaking schoolchildren were committing cannibalism? Jesus Christ.

[@tonymccain7269]

I have heard that the doctors from unit 731 were given pardons from war crimes and moved to the United States under new identities in exchange for the research findings. The USA also did the same to many German scientists, operation paperclip was the name of the program.

[@str2010]

To be fair both the soviets and Americans were doing it. They know their former enemies had valuable research and with the cold war, both sides knew the other was going to acquire as much of it as possible

[@mroldschool001]

I heard of that being done for German scientists, but I'd never come anything across that towards Japanese ones

[@jimanonymous113]

That's what I heard too. I think you can Google and find out where they lived in the USA.

[@mr.ilikespam6081]

cia loved them

[@jimanonymous113]

@@mroldschool001 an X-files episode mentioned the 731 researchers moving to the US.

[@rbb7555]

sadly my family has had a "bad" experience with Japanese army. My great grandfathers squad was in a pow camp and when the Japanese learned Americans were coming to liberate the camp they lined my great grandfathers squad up on a wall and killed them by machine gun somehow my great grandfather was the only one to survive. He never really talked much about the war and I only found out because of my great grandma and when she told me I was the only member of my family to know so.

[@shiningmissingno.8788]

What is/was your grandfather's nationality?

[@rbb7555]

@@shiningmissingno.8788 my grandfather is American. He was part of a unit that was paradropped into islands to build make shift airstrips for aircraft to land on

[@jacpratt8608]

he was lucky to survive that

[@hkboi7433]

that's so sad but luckily your grandfather survived to tell the story. a blessing in disguise.

[@Conn30Mtenor]

@@hkboi7433 how is being shot a blessing?

[@christinedeshano2872]

Simon can appear brutal, but he is one of the best presenters I know of when it comes to learning about history and historical figures. Biographics and Geographics. He's covered a lot more about Japan. He has about a 13 channels, most of them educational, one where his personality resides.

[@slcpunk2740]

Allegendly

[@bibsp3556]

Casual?

[@oceanberserker]

Very true. He doesn't sugarcoat anything and he always does his best to present the subject matter at hand in a very matter - of - fact way.

[@JS-ih7lu]

Simon is not brutal, he’s just being truthful and objective. It’s people who like to sugar coat things who also want to sweep uncomfortable history under the carpet.

[@micfail2]

He's actually pretty terrible, he gets a lot wrong because he is an alt left extremist so he provides cover for other alt left extremists like the Nazis and the Imperial Japanese.

[@jamaljyf]

My great grandfather was caught by Japanese soldiers and he was being beaten and tortured because he hide Australian prisoners of war who escaped from Japanese maintain-prison in Malaysia. He is then being sentenced to prison for 5 years for “colluding with the enemy”. After war ended , he was released. Until this day, he is tortured by the memory of the ww2 and he never used any Japanese products at all. Kuma-san, at the least, thank you for at least facing and learning the horrible truth of your country involvement in ww2. I suggest you watch the video “ playing the victim, historical revisionism and Japan “ if you have the interest.

[@ajaysidhu471]

"never used any Japanese products at all" same goes someone I knew who was a POW

[@Baldwin-iv445]

I had a great uncle who was stationed in the Philippines at the start of the war and would be forced to go on the Bataan death March. I never met him, but according to my dad he spent the rest of the war in slavery at a Japanese steel Mill.

[@some_random_wallaby]

As an Aussie, immense respect & gratitude for your grandfather. Legend.

[@dw3403]

I was born in the early sixties and so many people hated the Japanese at that time. Germans also of course. It was still very much in their memories. I did not understand it being a child but did know it had to do with the wars. I do now understand the hatred they carried and its not for us to judge those people because we were not there. but for newer generations it is not their place to hate the generations of Germans or Japanese. I do however think the Japanese need to stop whitewashing their history and teach these things so history cannot repeat itself. We know Americans have their dirty laundry too.

[@ConnorsCrapTV]

Japan did what they had to to fight for their country. They did nothing wrong in my opinion, in fact I see it as honorable.

[@TheHockeywitch]

As an older Korean woman my parents, especially my father HATED, hated Japan until the day he passed away. My mother still has a hard time trusting the Japanese. A lot of people say the past was a long time ago & we should let it go. There are still survivors who remember the Japanese cruelty and even experienced it personally. My father was young when he experienced this and his hatred ran really deep. He never bought a Japanese car and I remember he wouldn't speak to my sister for a month because she bought a Honda. I have no real problem with the Japanese people BUT I do have a problem with their government and right-wing policies. The Japanese people need to know their history. They should look towards Germany on how to deal with their past. I would love to accept an apology from the Japanese government on behalf of my parents, especially my father. Some people say that the Japanese government has apologized several times already. Unfortunately, I can't put any faith in the Japanese government because they still pay respect and honor the shrines of those Japanese war criminals. The government still flies the imperial Japan flag almost like a slap in the face of all the people who were terrorized by the Japanese government. You don't see Germans still flying the Nazi flag. To me that is the equivalent of a hypothetical Germany that apologized to the world and especially the Jews for their atrocities but then would honor and pay respect to a Josef Mengela. It doesn't make sense. I don't know if the victims who are still alive from my father's generation could ever forgive Japan. But as a whole I don't think the younger generation of Koreans are as rigid and are willing to forgive if the Japanese government would just acknowledge their history and teach it to their own people. It would be nice if the Japanese government could do this while there are still survivors left from that era so that they can have some peace. Thank you for willing to learn about their own dark history. Take care! PS - I have never bought a Japanese car but own a Volkswagen. LOL

[@erikahua8062]

As someone who grew up in Germany I agree with you opinion. When we learned in history about the ww2 they really told us how it really was and how cruel. Today if you raise a nazi flag, it considered bad and reminds of the history in the past and is not accepted today.

[@sriparameshwara3855]

The Japanese flag has been used long before the modern era, way before Imperial Japan. So it's not really equivalent to Nazi Germany's flag, since it has been used forever.

[@bibsp3556]

Abe was forced to give his final apologies

[@nippononna]

Watch a video titled ”Untold truth of Japanese annexation of Korea PART1”

[@Shiroya_Rumika]

That's why younger generation is important

[@vincentterraneo263]

I think one can love their country and be proud of it while excepting the darker sides of what it did. While the Axis powers were exceptionally egregious almost every country that gained power has it's horrors. You mentioned in another video you didn't learn too much about the Holocaust, the WWII video breezed over it because in the West it's probably one of the most covered topics in our history classes. I'd recommend learning about that if you want to keep delving into the darker parts of history. For a slightly less depressing video, Extra History did a series on Admiral Yi Sun-Sin who fought against Japan for Korea in the Imjin war. I don't know how much you talk about it in Japan but in the US it's not very well known.

[@corey2232]

Exactly. Every country has dark moments in their history. WW2 was filled with them. The Allies had their own too. Stalin went on to be responsible for millions of deaths in the USSR, the US rounded up Japanese-Americans & held them in camps until the war was over (thankfully no systematic "final solution" plots), which resulted in years of their lives wasted (and property/wealth gone). Allied soldiers, from all countries, technically committed war crimes upon liberating Nazi concentration camps. I say "technically," because what happened was pretty understandable given the circumstances. Most people were aware of the Nazis mistreatment of Jews & other minorities, but didn't grasp the full extent. When they were physically confronted with it for the fist time, many were mentally broken in complete shock! Many Nazi SS & camp guards who already surrendered & were prisoners of war, were dragged out into the camps & summarily executed by soldiers lost in rage. On-site justice, execution of prisoners, etc. is definitely violated the Geneva Convention's treatment of POW's & would legally be considered international war crimes. But given what horrors they came into contact with, it was almost universally forgiven. Anyway, ALL countries had their moments. Yes, some were far worse than others. No, I'm not equating the severity of one to another. Just acknowledging them, because with war comes violence & suffering...leading to dark moments in human history for all involved.

[@808INFantry11X]

@@corey2232 part of my family were put in interment camps. I love my country but I believe it's important that we acknowledge acknowledge aspect that are not so great so we can prevent it from happening again.

[@TheGemar14]

Not every country has killed millions of unarmed citizens over the space of a few years.

[@rwsmith7638]

True. We have skeletons in our closet and though a lot was learned about in school, it was presented in such a way as make the US sound great, like annihilating the Native Americans because it was our 'Manifest Destiny' to take over and develop the entirety of the nation from sea to sea, something 'savages' could never do.

[@penguinproductions5730]

as a Korean, I would like to thank you for making this video, I had a friend who would deny the war crimes that Japan committed and even went as far as to say that we did it to them. so I am very thankful that you would stand up and accept your country's past.

[@CWG-op9td]

Japanese are always in denial 🤦‍♀️

[@enricofermi8200]

I applaud you for seeking the truth. You represent your generation well. No one blames your generation for not knowing, previous generations have let you down.

[@BenSATX]

Thanks for posting this video and providing your experience in Japanese schools. I’ve always been curious what was taught to school students about the war. No country is perfect, but by knowing what happened and learning from it, hopefully the same mistakes will never be repeated. 🙏🏻

[@veramae4098]

Years ago I read a comment in a YT vid, an American was dating a Javanese foreign exchange student, and discovered she didn't even know Japan had invaded other courtiers. I could not believe it, but now I do.

[@rainbow2639]

I grew up in Malaysia with people telling me the cruelty of the Japanese towards the Chinese during their occupation of Japan . I would like to think that they are not capable of committing these crimes again but somehow I fear that it is not the Japanese people themselves who would but their government .

[@fargr5926]

Their samurai culture certainly played a role.

[@Lingboysc2]

I think learning from your own country's mistakes is one of the most patriotic things you can do. As an American, learning about the awful things we did to people in the Vietnam war and the wars in the middle east is painful but important. We need to learn to recognize these actions as wrong and become better! Great video Kuma! ありがとうございます！

[@waynepatterson5843]

@Lingboysc2 --- I think learning from your own country's mistakes is one of the most patriotic things you can do. As an American, learning about the awful things we did to people in the Vietnam war and the wars in the middle east is painful but important. We need to learn to recognize these actions as wrong and become better! Great video Kuma! ありがとうございます！ Wayne Patterson --- Your comment reveals that practically everything that you think that you know about the Vietnam Conflict is false and derived from Communist-Leftist propaganda.

[@Lingboysc2]

@@waynepatterson5843 google the my lai massacre

[@bulldog71ss33]

Moron.

[@wadeenyart9676]

Hello, I just found your video. As a 50 year old American I want to say it takes a lot of courage to make a video like this. I commend you. I hope there are more youth like you in all parts of the world that want to see a peaceful world in the furure. If there are then the world has a bright future. Thank you for your video

[@skeetskeet7041]

Honestly as an American this is scarily similar to how several states are now trying to erase “unfavorable history” because it might make some students full uncomfortable and that’s the point where you really get to say your nation and education is failing you. It’s probably the worst thing for any nation to try and remove any blemishes from its history in order to maintain loyalty or install false pride/security in their citizens and honestly this reaction video is already a far and away better reaction than how most people in the US react to the history they don’t learn

[@Terminal-Vet]

What is most concerning to me is how much of the history being taught today comes from the Howard Zinn school of historical revisionism, that paints much of what actually happened in our history as "America, the West, and Capitalism evil and everyone else as the victim." What most people do not realize is that Zinn was a hardcore communist and was greatly criticized for his selective and deliberately deceptive presentation of American history by most serious historians, but thanks to popular culture, he is now looked upon as a sage and a "critical thinker" in the realm of history, when in truth he was a liar with a hate for all things American.

[@jesuszamora6949]

Difference being that most of the time, those attempts at erasure are met with heavy criticism, and western media helps to fill in the gaps. Seems like there's no real resistance to japan's whitewashing of its history. Granted, both countries are far from the model that Germany represents, but still, we're a lot better than some. @A Panc - History, like all things, is a battle in and of itself. You have the communists who want to paint America as the devil, and the fascists who want to paint her as free of any imperfections. Ours is a nation like any other, with parts to be ashamed of (slave trade, segregation, Japanese-American "internment" camps), and parts to be proud of (civil rights movement, space age, standing up to the Soviets).

[@Terminal-Vet]

@@jesuszamora6949 well said, Sir.

[@spearfisherman308]

the problem is tha gr they are using that to indoctrinate rather than educate if they were going to educate they would mention that both abolitionists and the early womens rights movement were racist.

[@donkeysunited]

I think most countries gloss over shameful acts from their history in school education. Nowadays the information is available on the internet but before maybe 20 years ago, it would be much easier to deceive a nation.

[@allenpinnix5241]

Good on you for being willing to watch videos like this one, to listen to what is being presented, and for being willing to reflect and think over what you've seen and heard- there are many persons, in a great many countries, who would not do the same.

[@backbeat3254]

Kuma, you are part of the healing. Now tell others so they can be part of it, too. It wasn't so long ago, after all. We all have things to learn. Thank you for playing an important part in this story.

[@hansandresen4392]

You have a beautiful spirit - thank you for your open mind and for your care!

[@wardmizell4749]

I attended public school in Midwest America, and I don’t recall much taught about the pacific theatre. I first learned about the Japanese internment in America as an adult after reading a book about Kendo.

[@jonathonyoung3117]

I think most chinese don't resent the japanese at the individual level. Some still do, but with time that will heal too. Afterall, there are still lingering hurt from history. I also understand why a lot of japanese people would find it hard to accept japanese atrocities in wwii. acknowledging it and the shame, finds uneasy balance with love of one's country. But I think it's okay for an individual to love one's nation for all its glory and despite its ugliness. Japan has a lot of things to be proud of.

[@kamikaze1888]

there is a popular saying on Chinese forum, "we are not qualified to forgive Japan on behalf of our parents and grandparents", let alone Japan is not even asking for forgiveness at all. They play the victim. I am sure history will correct itself through other means.

[@user-ov1ps7go4m]

@@kamikaze1888 China will have its revenge sooner or later.

[@jianchen4204]

The thing is, they don't even teach the real history of WW2 in Japan.

[@briannacox4878]

omg thanks so much for taking my suggestion! i loved the video.

[@ogami1972]

I can't imagine what it feels like as a modern japanese person to watch something like this. i am american, we have a somewhat similar relationship with our pre-civil war behavior. I want to give you a hug and tell you its alright, this wasn't you. what a shitty world.When I was growing up in the southern USA, we were taught many lies about our history, and, to an extent, we are still being told, and dealing with, those lies today. It is a very human experience, I guess. Good video :)

[@Paul66Videos]

Thank you for making this video. It is helpful to hear from someone who grew up and was educated in Japan confirm what the historian said was taught in Japan.

[@spennyb89]

I think it's brave and valuable of you to post your reaction to learning about the atrocities committed by your country. We should normalize facing the atrocities in our history seriously and non-defensively. Japan and the US too need to do more of this.

[@remains10]

idk if it's just my school or state but my school teaches about what our ancestors have done alot in the US

[@stratejic1020]

@@remains10 agreed I don't know where the US isn't teaching this stuff but in almost every single school that I've been to they've taught about the atrocities of America during the colonization and throughout its history up until the modern day so when people say that the US isn't teaching it's atrocities through history I call BS.

[@Wilderwolfman]

@@stratejic1020 same its something i learned in school even back in the 90s i think alot people just assume we dont teach about the indian wars or tragedy of the slave trade or even the mexican american war the Philippines the fire bombings or japan the horrors of vietnam. we LEARN ALL OF THIS even "BLAME THE MAINE ON SPAIN" i think people misunderstand americans understanding of this and how we know about this stuff. the confusion from what i see is that we americans know about this and try to move forward rather than wallow in sadness for what older generations have done. acknowledge understand then move forward. (then there are people who just dont pay attention in class)

[@stratejic1020]

@@Wilderwolfman we understand that you can't go back and there is no going back and trying to go back will only destroy society like right now

[@milkman3873]

i agree but us schools cover almost every single atrocity, at least where i was. we could have gone more in detail abt japanese camps during ww2 but it was still covered for a few days and was very anti america

[@mamamememoo]

I’m heartened by your attempt to find out more and I hope you can share about the truths you have learned to others. We learn from the mistakes of the past and pretending the truth of the past doesn’t exist doesn’t teach the right lessons and doesn’t help everyone to move on.

[@benkanobe7500]

You are a great young Japanese Man. You are the future of Japan. Continue your worldly education and lead Japan to a wonderful and cooperative future with the rest of the world. That can only happen if you learn the true history of Japanese aggression, enslavement, and torture of innocents of so many countries. Japan likes to talk about honor. Honor truthful history. Thank you for being who you are. You are truly International.

[@keystonepredictions]

Your English is very good! Keep providing amazing videos!!

[@MeMyself_andAI]

I admire your dedication to learning english. As a native speaker i do not really understand how difficult it is to learn, but ive heard that it is one of the hardest languages in the world. It is not hard to see why. Especially with many words sounding the same and having different meanings and spellings depending on context. I tried to learn spanish twice and BARELY passed. English is one of my passions and i have studied it extensively in my free time. You choose your words carefully and you are doing an amazing job at speaking. Thank you for giving me the perspective of a native japanese. It helps expand my world view. If you would like any channel art please let me know! I am a professional graphic designer and i will make you a banner and a logo for your channel for free if you want :) please let me know if you are interested and good luck with your youtube channel! Much love from New York 🤟

[@mariosmatzoros3553]

Where did you hear that it was one of the hardest languages in the world? Here in Europe we are taught the opposite, in terms of grammar,rules ,exceptions ect English isn't really a complex and difficult language compared to others.

[@MeMyself_andAI]

@@mariosmatzoros3553 unpredictable spelling, pronunciation, and grammar are all pretty widely accepted traits of the language

[@remoazaro2243]

I have a russian friend who said english was an easy language to learn. I imagine that it depends on the commitment you have to learning it and what language you originally spoke.

[@idk-ye7ur]

@@MeMyself_andAI Wouldn't spanish be worse to learn then?

[@MeMyself_andAI]

@@idk-ye7ur it depends on what language you have as your first language to determine the difficulty of other languages you want to learn. Then you have to take into consideration any new alphabets or writing styles, like japanese read backwards compared to english. Lastly, different people have different aptitudes for learning languages. You can look up the difficulty rankings for learning languages. For example, for a native english speaker, the hardest languages to learn are korean, japanese, mandarin, arabic. Ive had koreans tell me english was incredibly difficult to learn and ive had spanish and dutch people tell me it was easy. It all depends on many factors but the most important one is what language your native tongue is. That will normally be the biggest influencer in what languages youll be able to easily pick up unless youre like a polyglot prodigy lol

[@twix2224]

Thank you so much for making this video. I think every Japanese young people should watch this! Really appreciate you.

[@darkpharaoh542]

Great video. Thanks for making this.

[@OverseerMoti]

I appreciate you learning the controversial topics of your nation history, Kuma-san. It takes courage to learn about it, and it takes patience to withstand harassment from people around you once they know you learn about this. If you'd like and ready, Kuma-san, maybe you can get a little more detail on the Nanking massacre, and why the Chinese and Koreans get infuriated whenever a public figure visited Yasukuni shrine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/op-kdGCPbtWSqbs The last well-known figure who got the "flak" for visiting the shrine was Ai Kayano a few months ago; her voice acting contract in the Chinese game Azur Lane was terminated, her existing voices in that game got erased, and other seiyū filled her place. Peace from Indonesia.

[@tenshionslifer3031]

ah yes Kayano Ai some weebs were mad at CN server without knowing what happen actually

[@nigelralphmurphy2852]

Indonesia, the only country in the world that committed an atrocity against Japanese soldiers after the Japanese surrendered, massacring over 100 Japanese troops at Bulu prison, Semarang, central Java. And the Japanese did almost nothing to the effing Indonesians! Typical Indonesians.

[@tniles817]

I think its very courageous for you to make this video. Im half and live in Japan. I have family on both sides of this war. At least once a year I usually have an older guy come up to me and tell me how I should go visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki and I can see the hate in there eyes. I wish they knew more about the whole history, not just the one they know and enjoy. War is terrible. America wasn`t right on some things and Japan wasn't right on some things. I love living in Japan.

[@gaymer42069]

This was a good video. Thank you for giving your perspective.

[@Howyodoinn]

Every country has a past, every country has done horrible things throughout history. I think its awesome that you're looking past what you have been taught in school to learn more. I wish every single child in school should learn about the horror and atrocities of the great wars, and what evil men can do when allowed. Be well my friend.

[@silverstrike5904]

Especially America

[@M_martinez65653]

​@silverstrike5904 "especially America" Sounds like you missed the part in OP's comment about how EVERY country has committed attrrocities. To think that the U.S. has somehow surpassed other developed countries in war crimes is laughably stupid.

[@Howyodoinn]

@@M_martinez65653 it's not a war crime the first time right. Lol

[@nigelralphmurphy2852]

Does every country has done terrible things mean that atrocities don't matter because everyone has done them? Try that if someone murders your partner, child, parents and see how far it goes.

[@Lorkdemper]

I'm an American who attended high school from 2004-2008 and college from 2008-2012, all in Southern California. At least so far as I'm aware, none of this was really taught, except in more specialized History courses in college. I minored in History but didn't take any higher-level courses regarding WW2 or Asian history (I had a different emphasis), and was only exposed to this subject matter by friends and classmates who were taking those more specialized courses. In contrast, many of the darker aspects of US history, both domestically and internationally, were absolutely taught in high school and college, as was the Holocaust. The gulag system of the Soviet Union was at least introduced, but not really emphasized; other USSR human rights abuses were not really taught. This could all have changed by now, and is almost certainly taught differently at different schools or by different teachers/professors, so YMMV.

[@3mKay]

Nice ! as many mentioned, its not the insincere apology or compensation that people want from the government of Japan, its acknowledgment. Don't shy away from history, dont ignore, dont hide it, do it like what Germany did, teach the people about it, remove war criminals from shrines where they are worshipped

[@dupleforce7023]

I just watched one of your videos from 2 months ago and you can tell that you’ve gotten better at speaking English 👍

[@TheDarkrebel131]

I’m really glad you’re talking about this 👏👏

[@Free_Palestine_419]

"I come to you General MacArthur to offer myself as the one to bear sole responsibility. I wish that the punishment would fall on me. Not on..... Japan." - Emperor Hirohito to MacArthur 1945 "This has nothing to do with punishments. I need your help. Let's see what we can do to get Japan back on its feet." - MacArthur to Emperor Hirohito 1945 This was insanely powerful because the MacArthur knew the cruel punishment of the Treaty of Versailles is what led to World War 2 and he wanted to prevent the Japanese from becoming so resentful that another war would've broken out. "With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don’t seem like such a bad thing to me to wanna put a little bit of it back together." - Desmond Doss (America's Greatest Hero and first conscious objector to receive the Medal of Honor)

[@HenryTitor]

My hometown is in Manchuria, China. I remembered learning 731 in middle school and I did some further search on the subject. We have sirens every year in Manchu region on 09/18 for remembering WWII. So I had nightmares about 731 every year after that 😂. My point is just that I’m glad there’s one more person learned about this. And I hope hate won’t berry us all.

[@vliu5724]

Japanese. Soon to be fucked.

[@HenryTitor]

@@gastondeutsch4622 Lol. Can’t even get the name of the group of people who invaded right

[@shinrapresident7010]

And we know China refuses to teach about the Tiananmen Square massacre.

[@HenryTitor]

@@shinrapresident7010 Oh really? Have you picked up a textbook used in mainland? Or it’s just a saying your government taught you?

[@shinrapresident7010]

@@HenryTitor Because I lived in China as an entomologist doing research on Varroa Destructor Mites when it happened.

[@blowba]

I'm an American, a new subscriber and a history nerd. My grandfather was a sailor on the USS West Virginia. He was at Pearl Harbor and Midway and many other battles. He told me many stories of fighting the Japanese. I really admire what you're doing now. It takes a lot of courage to look at the history of your country warts and all and to educate yourself about what happened, even when it's painful and ugly. I wish more people would do this. Thank you.

[@jakel3491]

You have really well spoken english i can understand you very well and i can tell your trying hard to do that good job man

[@kitsuneneko2567]

My piano teacher hated the Japanese. She was a Filipino woman who was in the Phillipines at the time of the Japanese occupation, and she struggled for the rest of her life with that hatred. She didn't tell me much, but from what she did tell me, I don't blame her. I've been learning about the Japanese language and culture, and have been finding it very troubling. As you can tell by my nick, I love Japan and it's culture, but there is still a darkness, and it's very difficult to reconcile. It's harder because I find it very difficult to have an honest conversation with Japanese, they really, really seem to hate that. It's unfortunate. Learning about Japan and its culture, for that reason, has actually been somewhat painful, and that is so troubling to me, because there are so many beautiful things too.

[@bluehawaii0007]

Because Japan lost the war, it continues to be insulted by Allied propaganda such as "Japan invaded China and Asia" and "Japan committed genocide." But these are not true. War is always persuaded by the victorious powers. The evils and atrocities committed by the victorious nations are hidden, and the defeated nations are forced to do things they never did. Kuma who makes this video is also ignorant about the truth of war.

[@kitsuneneko2567]

@@bluehawaii0007 war sucks, and no part in war is innocent. But I categorically refuse to allow you to deny what Japan did in world War 2, and your denial of such is on the level of those who will deny what Germany did.

[@bluehawaii0007]

@@kitsuneneko2567 If you only believe what the Allies spread, I have nothing to tell you.

[@kitsuneneko2567]

@@bluehawaii0007 you do indeed have nothing to tell me.

[@idabthereforeiam7479]

@@bluehawaii0007 Tell that to the Filipinos,Chineses, Malaysians,Koreans, Indonesians and Pacific islanders who faced the horrors of Japanese imperialism. While it is true that the Allied nations deny their crimes it is also true that that you are denying the crimes of your nation.

[@DocHolliday1851]

I get a kick out of the reactions I get when I discuss Unit 731. For context, it's usually bozos trying to insult me for my ancestry(I'm Japanese American). It's as if my opinions are taboo, and I'm supposed to deny, justify, or make excuses, etc. It's very telling to the type of person they are. I feel like teaching this in Japanese school is important. It shows a country is willing to admit wrongs, and want it to be a cautionary tale to younger generations. It's a type of strength & courage. Imo, being silent like this is much more deafening when it comes to bringing shame. Many other countries are aware of Unit 731, and it's pretty awkward to try pretending it never happened. It's important to remember no country is perfect or innocent. All countries have done horrible stuff.

[@johnbigelson7471]

On that exact point, lets not forget Ishii himself - the head of 731, was given immunity for biological research, which is nearly as bad as the original crimes; it's like saying, "I won't torture a man, but I'm okay with paying someone else to torture them so I can learn more about warfare." Certainly a dark time worldwide.

[@johnbigelson7471]

@@notting2640 No, they also carried out tests directly related to warfare, like bullet penetration on human skin and grenade radius effects on the body. Describing their research as "making great headway", while technically correct, risks sounding like one condones this behavior or accepts these methods as valid science. Make no mistake, it was a murderous group of evil men. If you or I were a Chinese POW then, we'd risk being dissected alive it we fell into their hands.

[@gibsonraymonda]

@@johnbigelson7471 That and Klaus Barbie becoming a CIA asset.

[@oliverortiz8507]

Thank you for this video.

[@irisll4260]

There was an experiment . They put mother and infant in the same room. While at the same time , heating up from the ground . They wanted to see if mother’s love to the infant will overcome the pain of heating and not using the infant as a stepping stone to get away from the heat.

[@localextremist2839]

I just wish an organization in Japan would educate the Japanese population without any backlash

[@Bomber-qz7ng]

Hey! Love your content keep it up I hope you keep working on your English Its getting there, Stay safe friend! With USA and Japan together and working hard, No force on earth could stop us!

[@seleuf]

Proud of you for how you handled learning about this stuff.

[@DerpyLaron]

Thank you for this very intresting video and otherside view.

[@machingunjelly]

Not surprised that Japan would love to bury the past behind them. They never acknowledged their wartime rapes and murder.

[@BergenDev]

The trip to Nanking is terrible.

[@vincentdarrah]

There is a saying here in America that those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. I think that by you learning history, both good and bad is a good thing. We Americans have done many bad things in our history. We stole land and their culture from native American tribes, we enslaved Africans, we brought Chinese over to build a railroad across the US then denied them the right to stay, we put Japanese-Americans in concentration camps in our country but not German Americans or Italian Americans during World War 2. So even though your country did wrong in the past, be proud because they are a great nation now

[@icecold9511]

To be fair regarding internment.....it was probably a good idea. The war wasn't exactly going well and trusting people from that country isn't exactly the best idea. One person keeping loyalty and given access to secrets.... Imagine if a Japanese spy had been involved in our counter ambush at Midway. History could be a lot different, and a lot darker. And while it probably sucked to be interred...it also sucked to bleed out, scream out the last of one's life, lose legs or eyes at Guadal Canal. People were forced to stay on jobs because they were critical. Parents never saw their sons again. People came home permanently crippled, entire life ruined. It sucked for everyone. Internment, compared to what others suffered, is pretty gentle. The war at that time needed a potential threat out of the way.

[@mitsumikyoya8746]

@@icecold9511 No, there was no justification for Japanese American internment camps. It's a simply deliberate breach of constitutional rights. I know it's started with the Niihau incident which provoked wartime hysteria. But they is still no justification to intern a whole bunch of people with the ethnicity for it. just imagine if the government round up Oklahoman Caucasian in internment camp just because McVeigh blew up a federal building. Next, the internment order is also majorly motivated and pushed by economic competition by white farmers back in West coast and racial prejudice which plagued Asian American during that time. Hell, even the farms and business property is confiscated and not given back to the Japanese american owner after the war is over. Also, the order is more dumber when you justify "national security" for it. Ten of thousands of Japanese American been asked to sign up for military as the internment going on. You question their loyalty and being hysteric about their loyalty...and yet you suddenly trust them in the military and national secret when it served your interest in war. Lastly why it was purely racial, hundreds of German and Italian American was interned but it was because they were indeed the enemy, such as the members of German American bund and the government doesn't round up a whole bunch of their ethnicity for it. So, no. I know, war sucks and America having a hard time during the war. But, the internment was totally unnecessary and everyone needs learn from that, or we gonna repeat the same shit in the future to everyone else or maybe even you.

[@icecold9511]

@@mitsumikyoya8746 I was unaware of the farm issues. As for German Americans and Italians....there were to many of them to even consider internment. And a lot of things done during the war weren't strictly constitutional. I personally consider taking some kid who never even voted before, give him 3 weeks training and knowingly send him to a highly likely death, doesn't exactly pass constitutional muster either. And I'm just a lot more concerned about what those kids suffered fighting the war than people sidelined against their will. Everyone basically lost their right to do as they pleased, not just Japanese Americans. The little guy forced to be a ball turret gunner, a suicidal job, was picked based on his size. Do you understand what could go wrong trusting people with potentially mixed loyalty? Do you really believe none of them would have been spies? That's expecting a lot of someone whose home nation we were at war with, don't you think? One wrong person in the wrong place.... Yes some were used. Language and cultural experts. But you can bet military intelligence and the FBI were all over them. Some were probably used as double agents.

[@shorthopdoublelasers4168]

@@icecold9511 So based on your argument, should all the Muslims and immigrants from the middle east be in prison camps because they can potentially leak information to the terrorists and cause havoc? Forcing innocent people into camps is a direct violation of the US constitution whether you like it or not.

[@historyandpoliticsexplaine4876]

Ur humble style of presentation is so professional and mature. So i subscribed and signed up for notifications

[@margaret9940]

Another great video

[@CaliEye]

It shows wisdom to admit ignorance. It shows bravery and strength to learn about things you know know and to share with others... Bravo to you Sir, great video!

[@juliemcgugan1244]

Thank you for doing this video. It takes bravery to admit that your ancestors did wrong to people and that the future generations need to learn about this in order to learn how to avoid repeating this in the future. As a Brit, I have always thought what my ancestors have done throughout their imperialist campaign is beastly and while I understand that this is nothing I have done and that I do not need to take personal responsibility for it, it costs nothing to understand the wronged person's perspective and have compassion for them.

[@simonwinwood]

❤ thank you for this. your english is amazing , my brother.

[@Unownshipper]

I appreciate you sharing your perspective and educating yourself about your country's history. It's critical that we all never stop learning. A single person is not responsible for the crimes of their nation's history or the failures of their country's education system, but they do have an obligation to be an informed citizen. It's important not stop educating yourself simply because you leave school.

[@PaddyTobin]

Peace be upon you Kuma,it takes courage to chose to face such truths.

[@Black_Ryze]

Every country has participated in terrible things. There is no morally superior ethic group or country over others. It's so important to discuss and accept that these things happened because we can't learn from these events unless we do. Historical revisionism damages entire generations in the future.

[@themorningguy906]

This might sound superficial but south asian countries never tormented their neighbours , As far as I've read

[@sheddy22]

@@themorningguy906 😭

[@sheddy22]

@@themorningguy906 you're telling me India and Pakistan have never tormented each other

[@themorningguy906]

@@sheddy22 atleast they don't invade each other and commit serious warcrimes

[@asorbus1966]

Much respect to you Kumo for your interest in understanding dark chapters in your country's history without being fearful of the shame it has there. To know you are a citizen of a country with shameful acts in its past is not wrong. It gives perspective and understanding that mistakes are in the past of even countries with bright goals. A willingness to understand and move forward is important because people need to learn so not to repeat past errors. This is why history needs to be taught and taught in a way that is balanced. Know past bad deeds, but also what was done to rectify them and how it relates to the present.

[@sherribarrett1490]

Thank you for this video. Because you have viewed this and sought to understand others in the world, I have gained respect for the Japanese. At this point in America I fear the rise of fascism and ignoring reality. We all must understand our histories and seek to avoid the horrors of conflict and treating others differently. We must avoid leaders who make foolish decisions.

[@pauldavies6]

Shocking things done by a lot of nations, do not take any of this onto your own shoulders. We live we learn we do better (hopefully) in future

[@scottbracken1284]

Kuma. If everybody did their due diligence as you have, we would have an amazing world. Thank you Sir.

[@nyarlathotep616]

Thanks for your open mind

[@some_random_wallaby]

Thanks for the reaction. You say that you need to understand your history in the war in order to understand people from other countries: As an Australian, let me just say, ABSOLUTELY, YES! Our national identity barely existed before WWI, which was really when we started considering Australia as a nation, rather than a colony, (with New Zealand as a conjoined twin; a damn shame that we are getting a bit more distant nowadays, but they're still our brothers and always will be). Then WWII happened, and this identity was nailed down completely. And with that, you can understand how we grow up hearing about many, many, stories of Japanese war crimes. It's almost ubiquitous to any conversation about the war in the pacific, and it's personal because most of us born in Australia have grandparents that fought in the war (my late grandfather was in the air force as a navigator in a bomber crew, stationed in North Africa, but was born just late enough that by the time he could enlist, did so, and got trained up... the war was over). It's impossible to understate how much the war still means to us, and it still impacts how we view our neighbours. Even now, when I think Papua New Gunea, among other things, I think Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and I smile like you wouldn't believe. I don't hold anything against Japan for what happened in the past, but for your education system to leave you in the dark about it angers me. A lot. Even seeing the modern flag makes me uncomfortable, because it's just the same without the sun rays... But to think the old imperial one can be flown and (after a quick check on Wikipedia) is still used in your navy disgusts me to such a degree that I can't explain it. It's primal. Anyway, that was more than I thought I'd write... Dunno if you'll read this, but cheers (& subbed, fwiw) :)

[@liam6170]

It’s hard for many to learn the bad side of their country but necessary at the same time so we don’t repeat those mistakes

[@Chann223]

It's good that your choosing to learn these things about your country Kuma. It's always a hard thing, but necessary. And Japan is most definitely NOT the only country with a dark history it constantly tries to cover up. As an American, and African American, I can attest to that. This is why it's so important for people to face the truth and desire the truth above all else. Ignorance is what opens us up to repeating these same horrible mistakes that our ancestors did before us. The world cannot heal properly and move on into the better future it truly desires if we as human beings don't and can't learn from all of our mistakes. This is a HUMAN problem, not just any one country's problem.

[@4myearzonly]

Thank you for your video, I could see your shock and hurt.

[@Kevsterkicks]

I applaud you for being humble and taking time to learn all this, but how is that video not an English overload to you?

[@KumaCanJapan]

I actually watched this video again and again with English subtitles before making reaction video 😝 It was hard to understand

[@jacpratt8608]

@@KumaCanJapan What an ordeal! I could barely get through it once, and I skipped over it the 2nd time to see Kuma Can's reactions. Can't say I'd want to buy a cartoon of wine from that man, Simon? Enough said.

[@ruben_zermeno]

Fun fact: Many german citizens still have some kind of shame and fear about showing patriotism and love to their country, after the events of WW2, like showing their flag in public (NOT the swastika flag, nor the imperial german flag either), the actual yellow, red and black flag.

[@SC-dm1ct]

He didn't even cover all the worst horrors committed by Unit 731. You should look up more.

[@CactusJackIV]

My man needs more subs, he has over 100 thousand view but not that many subbers. You seem like a nice guy, you have gain a sub today. Thank you.

[@skylar5257]

It's actually insane hearing someone from Japan say they were never told about the war crimes that happened, as an American I know about and learned a bunch we've done and the Germans know about all the stuff they've done. Nothing against you or your people today but the old Japanese Government only has played as the victims of WWII and that's cowardly af.

[@AdamAdamHDL]

American education about American aggression while not hush hush like Japan's is still white washed. America absolutely brutalized Vietnam, who never provoked America in anyway, and American war museums go as far as saying "the war was a mistake"...meanwhile children are still stepping on American land mines. Like the beginning of the video said, each country has a habit of doing this. Either omitting it from their education, white washing it or going so far as to create justification for it and perhaps glorifying it.

[@traceythompson1092]

Yeah, but how much do you know about COINTELPRO, or United Fruit, or Mohammed Moseddegh, or MK Ultra, or My Lai, etc. Let he whose country is without sin cast the first stone.....or something like that.

[@oceanberserker]

@@traceythompson1092 He's not denying that and neither am I. What he IS saying is that those who've perpetrated such horrific actions have no right to call themselves victims.

[@LibeliumDragonfly]

I mean, as an American, you should at least know that your government at the time aided and facilitated the "cowardly" actions of the "old Japanese Government". The decisions were made by the Americans not to persecute people behind Unit 731, and Americans generally just didn't care if the Japanese showed no remorse or deny what they did to what was by then commie China, and half commie Korea. If the Americans insisted, given their influence post war, they could've totally ensured that the Japanese got the same kind of history education the Germans got.

[@user-zv6sl2ns4w]

No. Japan had never apologized to Korea and China.

[@charles_0017]

The Americans, still bloodied from battles like Iwo Jima and Okinawa, knew that an invasion of the Japanese mainland would be twice as bloody as anything they had ever experienced. They would eventually win, but the cost would be unthinkable. The Americans wanted a quick end to the war. And besides invading the mainland would give time for the Soviets to invade as well and what we might see today is similar to North and South Korea. The North being communist puppet and the South an American puppet and later on an ally. So dropping the atomic bomb would not only avoid hundreds of thousands of more unnecessary casualties, both military and civilian, but also prevent the Soviets from taking their share of the Japanese mainland. This was from America’s POV. Most people would have opted for the atomic bomb if they saw things from the American perspective.

[@arl4422]

anyone would of chosen the atomic option. had Japan been invaded, everyone would of suffered, while the atom bombs minimized the damage to two cities.

[@Zeelidox]

Not sure if you read these, but from a American perspective, we have something similar when it comes to the removal of the native Americans, most classes downplay it or just don’t teach it, I think Japan and the US can both make massive improvements to their education systems to recognize and teach about their nations mistakes.

[@davidk7324]

Thank you Kuma Can Japan for posting this and I congratulate you on your curiosity. I'm 64 years old and spoke with American WW2 Pacific Theater veterans about the atrocities they saw the Japanese Army and Navy commit against civilians, POWs, and allied soldiers. This lead me to explore the conduct of the Japanese Empire in the 30s and 40s and I am appalled that subsequent Japanese generations are largely ignorant of what their people did. All countries have darker sides and actions for which they must account. For example, the USA's genocide of indigenous/Native American populations and African-American slavery/subsequent discrimination are 2 obvious things we need to atone for. I feel that Japan's reluctance to welcome asylum seekers/refugees is a present day manifestation of racism that the Japanese people need to confront. It is directly connected to the racist actions against non-Japanese in the 30s and 40s. If I may, please consider viewing the library of videos available on the WW2TV KZbin channel. There are scores of well-researched presentations/discussions on the Pacific Theater. Due to the ubiquitous crimes of the Japanese Empire, these atrocities are a recurrent theme regardless of the topic. I will also leave you with a statement that I have made in the past regarding the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands in 45-46: "The use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki probably saved the Japanese people and culture." After you explore how the Japanese Empire conducted war in greater detail, I think this will make sense. I encourage you to view the WW2TV Okinawa and Saipan videos. Also, anything related to the Japanese Empire conduct in Singapore and the Philippines, earlier in the war.

[@antman5474]

I can't think of many countries that have achieved a form of greatness that haven't been criticised at some point. Here in the UK we are guilty of many atrocities going back many years but most of the victims were from underdeveloped societies that ultimately over time benefited from the UK's relationship with them. Now lets talk about the RAF bomber command and their effect on German civilian populations (Dresden & Hamburg spring to mind). War is war and shit happens. The children should not be held accountable for their fathers actions.

[@spearfisherman308]

yeah but Dresden was a military target

[@richardscales6715]

Hi Kuma - I appreciate your open-minded and humble approach to the video, and your shock and emotional pain at some of the things is obvious. I do not believe, though, that your generation needs to feel personal shame or guilt at what was done by your ancestors, in the same way that I do not feel personal guilt about Britains involvement in the Atlantic slave trade. Reading other comments by people from Korea , for example, I also recognise that I have not been personally affected by the atrocities mentioned, in the way that they have - my parents were only children in London during WW2, and experienced bombing raids and food shortages, but that was about it.

[@kentl7228]

Japan is a nation full of great people and a beautiful culture. I have no grudge to any Japanese person if today for the sins of the past, let alone all nations or cultures have some parts of their past that are regrettable. I wouldn't hit a Mongolian for reasons of Genghis Khan. I say this with the purpose of encouraging that if Japan is honest about it's past, I would only repect it more, not less. The same for all cultures in this respect. I hope that Russians can be honest with themselves about what their nation is doing now in terms of ethics.

[@CaptBrightside89]

Coming from Australia here - I respect you for educating yourself on the darker side of your country's history. Nobody leaves a war with their hands completely clean but there is no honour in denying or concealing known facts like comfort women, the Rape of Nanking, the death marches, the treatment of POWs by Japanese military and, of course, Unit 731. We need to acknowledge and remember what happened to prevent things like this from ever happening again. I have a lot of respect for modern Germany for owning up to what happened. Japan could be a global leader in this conversation and seek its redemption by doing everything possible to prevent this kind of warfare from ever happening again. I hope things change and the truth about Japanese conduct during the war is taught comprehensively in Japanese schools. Everyone needs to know this stuff.

[@danieljones7843]

Fellow Aussie here. While the Japanese may hide their history, they have done their best not to let themselves fall back into this level of savagery. It is however debatable how much they have pacified themselves voluntarily and how much their hand was forced through the disarmament treaties signed in the surrender declaration and enforced by the allies.

[@CaptBrightside89]

@@danieljones7843 Yeah, I agree. I'd say a lot of it is due to the disarmament treaties, etc. Especially given their reluctance to widely acknowledge their wartime atrocities and teach it in schools. It might just be me, but I think fully owning past actions and making reparations (including teaching an accurate account of what happened, even if you're the bad guy in the story, so that it may never happen again) is the absolute bare minimum if they want to make any claim to true remorse and try for redemption.

[@KumaCanJapan]

⚠️Original video → kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3yXq5ucgq2Aarc

[@bilguunbatjargal5298]

Ok when i new about unit 731 i was horrified of their experiments on Chinese people but im a mongolian and when watched this video im 😠😠 that unit 731 experimented on mongolian soldiers my great great grandfather was a mongolian soldier who fought the japanese at the battle of kalking gol🌊🌊 and he sed he respected the japanese soldiers but i watched this video i lost my respect that my great great grandfather told me

[@OverseerMoti]

@@bilguunbatjargal5298 back in our great-grandfather time, complete information was hard to get. Maybe your great grandfather only know the "good side" of the Japanese he met, and didn't know what happened in other places where other Japanese soldiers performed their atrocities. If he knew, he would be just as disgusted as you are, if not more. Please at least understand his circumstances, you don't have to forgive him for not knowing or something like that.

[@OverseerMoti]

I appreciate you learning the controversial topics of your nation history, Kuma-san. It takes courage to learn about it, and it takes patience to withstand harassment from people around you once they know you learn about this. If you'd like and ready, Kuma-san, maybe you can get a little more detail on the Nanking massacre, and why the Chinese and Koreans get infuriated whenever a public figure visited Yasukuni shrine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/op-kdGCPbtWSqbs The last well-known figure who got the "flak" for visiting the shrine was Ai Kayano a few months ago; her voice acting contract in Azur Lane was terminated, her existing voices in that game got erased, and other seiyū filled her place.

[@blitzzkrieg1400]

As a Filipino, this is what I have to say. First of all, I thank and appreciate you for discovering and learning about Japan's war crimes. Unfortunately, Japanese schools teach a different version of history. War crimes are terrible things, and Japan did so many of them, most especially in my home country (the Bataan Death March is one notable example). It is truly unfortunate that much of Japan's youth do not know much about Japan's war crimes. Some Japanese claim that the stories of war crimes and the number of deaths are "exaggerated". Some justified the war, saying that Japan was not the aggressor, even acclaiming Tojo as a hero. This is completely different in Germany, where people are aware of the atrocities of their country during the war. German education places emphasis on German war crimes, most especially the Holocaust, unlike in Japan where the Second World War only gets a few pages in school books. Japan's war crimes are horrifyingly true, but it does not mean that we should just let those things be forgotten, or that the youth should only know very little about them. It is true that much of Asia has forgiven Japan. Anime is gaining popularity in my home country. However, I feel disappointed about the fact that Japan's war crimes are slowly being forgotten by the youth of Japan. Yet, there are people like you who have finally discovered the reality of war, and the atrocities that Japan has done on other Asian countries. I hope that reforms on Japanese historical education will be made, so that the young people of Japan will eventually know and learn the harsh reality of war and the war crimes their country has done before, just as German children know about the Holocaust and such. Once again, thank you very much.

[@Hoo88846]

My paternal grand-uncle was shot and drowned in the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China, during the Japanese occupation. His body floated up after a few days. The problem with the continuous lack of education about WWII in Japan is that the class A criminals were released back into Japan and became prominent politicians after WWII, because the United States was bribed by Emperor Hirohito, the real person who orchestrated the WWII Japanese invasion in Asia. Emperor Hirohito used the treasures stolen from the Asian countries and the medical data gained from Unit 731 and Unit 100 to bribe General MacArthur into laying all the blames on the prime minister, so as to exonerate and spare the Imperial family's lives. 东条英机 Hideki Tojo got all the blames and was hanged, but most class A criminals were spared and released back to Japan after light sentences. They became prominent politicians in post-war Japan under the American occupation. This is why we have the current Japanese revisionism problem, because these class A criminals wanted to whitewash, downplay, and euphemize their WWII crimes, such as Rape of Nanking, Unit 731, Bataan Death March, comfort women, etc. The following video can explain the exact details of the bribery given to the American general MacArthur by Emperor Hirohito. This is why most western countries don't even teach much about Japanese WWII crimes. Even in American world history textbooks, WWII is about Nazi German crimes, Fascist Italian crimes, the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor attack, and then the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but Rape of Nanking, Unit 731 and other Japanese war crimes aren't mentioned. Japan, WWII and Asian Treasures kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpaahHaMg6ZqkJo Shinzo Abe 安倍晋三‘s maternal grandfather Nobusuke Kishi 岸 信介 was a typical class A criminal released back to Japan. He became the prime minister of post-war Japan. He was nicknamed "Showa no Yokai" The Monster of Showa (the rule of Emperor Hirohito). If it hadn't been for that bribery consisting of treasures stolen from the Asians with the "Kill All, Steal All, and Burn All" (Three All's Policy) 三光政策, he would have been executed after the war. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobusuke_Kishi#:~:text=Nobusuke%20Kishi%20(%E5%B2%B8%20%E4%BF%A1%E4%BB%8B%2C%20Kishi,2007%20and%202012%20to%202020

[@jewelsoei]

Thank you for wanting to know.

[@williamnield7133]

Great video

[@ssissigui8846]

You are extremely brave to do that 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽. Not everyone has the guts to do that.

[@katrinax_x3689]

Great video! If there’s two things we must learn it’s that: 1. Never place a judgement or hate onto another country for their past. 2. Never judge the counties people by their government.

[@JS-ih7lu]

Speak for yourself. I wonder if you would be so blaise if your grandfather was a victim of Unit 731 or your grandmother a “comfort woman”.

[@gaming4life788]

​@@JS-ih7luDidn't america conduct the tsukgee syphilis experiment on black people so should I pass that hate onto citiziens

[@namelesssnitchy]

at the end you say its nessacery to communicate with people like me that watch your video (s). maybe also to communicatie with japanese too ? :P thanks for the video anyway interesting to hear reaction from japanese perspective at this time :D i still want to visit japan someday.

[@tnightwolf]

As someone from a former Imperial and Colonial power (Portugal) there is nothing better than being able to acknowledge your own mistakes and still being able to move-on, trying to make-up for all your flaws without ever forgetting about your own role in History! It might not be the greatest place, but it doesn't matter because (for better or worst) it only depends on how you want to evolve further.

[@victornunes6047]

Devolve o ouro kkk

[@aldyhabibie9717]

Dont worry, You are not the only one. Following Japanese's surrender and indonesian independence in 1945, the indonesian Youth group (also called "Pemuda") massacred both the remaining Japanese and what is left of the Dutch soldiers, their relatives, their descendants, The Chinese, and other indonesians suspected as their collaborator. This happened because the Allied force has taken all of the japanese soldier's weapon while they themselves are not in the position to take control of the archipelago. It gotten so bad that hundreds of the Youth even raided hospitals and prisons while carrying sharp bamboos and drag out all of both the japanese and the dutch they could find in the region. This was not in our history book due to the fact that the act was carried by armed civilians instead of the military which means that the documentation is a mess since it is clear that the people who participated in it didn't made a documentation of their own actions like the military did. Possibly due to the lack of information regarding the situation or just because of its plain brutality, it made the record of the whole incident could not meet the requirement to be put inside our history book (At least not detailed enough to do justice to it). But It is recorded in history nevertheless, This period of Indonesian history was called "Bersiap" which mean "Be Prepared". It was chaotic. After learning the details of this period just last year, I too was shocked.

[@kicunghartono1]

I hope that our history, the people of Indonesia, must also dare to be honest, as it is, to the next generation of the nation. the greatness of a nation also means acknowledging its black side as well. so that we all know, the pain of war for everyone.

[@clivematthews95]

This is humbling to see 😊

[@faronhenry156]

Great job

[@Ryuu44]

I'm from Poland. My country did bad things in history but also was the victim of things like the Holocaust. All countries have dark pages in their history books and nobody is bad, or evil just because he's from a country that did something wrong in the past. Non of my German friends are nazzis so I don't blame them for nazzism. You didn't torture people in Nanjing, so I won't blame you for that war crime. It's so important to learn about ones countries true history, both the good and the bad to grow as a person. To stop treating different nationalities as separate when we're all Human, we all have a simmilar human experience, want to be happy, want to make sure our loved ones are safe and happy as well. Also nationalism is just so dumb and archaic in my opinion and responsible for a lot of our worlds problems, specially in the 20th century, and it's harder to be blindly in love with your country and consider it superior to others if you know of the bad things it done in the past. I'm not Japanese and it's not my place to tell Japanese people where their culture and society should go, but I do have a lot of appreciation for Japan, know a few people living there, studied Japanese studies for 2 years on university before dropping out so I think it's clear that there are things in Japan's society that don't produce the best possible outcomes and could change sooner, rather than later. Like, we can all agree that forcing children into strict hair style and color rules isn't beneficial in any way, right? Well... I still love all my Japanese brothers and sisters and I hope I'll have an opportunity to visit your beautiful country before I die and sooner rather than later! Thank you for this video and your courage to confront yourselfs with truths that can't be easy to hear.