Regarding the Feb. 7 article "Aso Mining POWs seek redress": Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Yukihisa Fujita is quoted as saying, "As a prime minister of a nation who represents the country, (Prime Minister Taro) Aso needs to take responsibility for the past as well as the future."
I don't quite understand what Fujita is saying here. The country IS the nation, so what does this comment mean? Also, I think it is ridiculous to state that any country's leader should be held responsible for the mistakes not only of his/her predecessors but also of those who follow in the position. That is after all why government parties are voted for by the public: to change policies and try to correct mistakes by electing new politicians.
No one in any country should be held responsible for the errors of another person. We are each responsible for our own errors and not the errors of people over whom we have no control, and especially those in the future whose actions and words are not yet even known.
One of the most important and honorable things to anyone's credit is taking responsibility for one's own actions and words and to consider the implications for those who may be affected. Maybe if everyone accepted this responsibility, societies around the world would be better.