As the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II approaches, allies and friends of Japan face a critical decision. Predictable calls for renewed Japanese apologies will emerge from Beijing, Seoul and domestic activists stressing Japan’s pacifist identity. But supporting such demands would constitute a strategic error that undermines stability in the Indo-Pacific and empowers authoritarian narratives at odds with the interests of Japan, the U.S. and their allies.
Japan’s transformation since 1945 represents one of history’s most successful democratic transitions. From authoritarian empire to liberal democracy, from aggressor to peace advocate, from closed society to open market, Japan’s evolution stands unparalleled among former Axis powers. Today’s Japan bears no institutional, ideological or structural resemblance to its wartime predecessor. This fundamental transformation must inform contemporary policy decisions.
Importantly, Japan’s postwar identity, behavior and contributions to peace and prosperity around the world need to be highlighted by the Japanese government and its allies to counter the politically motivated narratives that paint Japan as an unrepentant and quickly militarizing country that hasn’t learned from its violent imperial period.
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