I'm a visitor from the United States who has resided in the Philippines for 12 years. Japan is the friendliest and most well-run country on Earth; however, the constant denials of Japan's brutality during the "East Asia co-prosperity" years are disheartening, damaging and unnecessary.
The sex slaves were real. The incidents of murder and blood lust in the Philippines, China and Korea are documented historical facts, and no number of women passing out denials at train stations can change them.
America and the Philippines, among others, have terrible skeletons in their history closets. Japan is not the only guilty party, but a great nation like Japan has to face the truth about its past. Maybe then the Chinese will come to their senses and back off their outrageous maritime territorial claims.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.