Toward the Abe statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II : lessons from the 20th century and a vision for the 21st century for Japan

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"In 1955 and 2005, Japan's prime ministers released landmark statements to mark the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the end of World War II. Many around Asia and the world were focused on what sort ...

"In 1955 and 2005, Japan's prime ministers released landmark statements to mark the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the end of World War II. Many around Asia and the world were focused on what sort of statement Prime Minister Abe Shinzo would release. The media was filled with speculation about whether his statement would uphold previous prime ministers' statements and include words such as "aggression," "colonial rule," or "apology." It was in this context that Prime Minister Abe himself commissioned a panel of Japan's foremost experts to look back on the 20th century and the path Japan followed before and after the war, and look ahead to the role Japan should play in the 21st century. This book brings together the presentations and commentary by the panel members as they explore Japan in the 20th century, lessons to be drawn from Japan's experience, its reconciliation with both Western and Asia countries, and the contributions Japan should make to the world going forward"--Publisher's website.

"Japanese leaders across a wide range of fields come together for a square look at Japan's trajectory since the war. In 2015 as the world commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the international community focused its attention on the Abe Statement, the statement released by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war. This book encapsulates the discussions held by the Advisory Panel on the History of the 20th Century and on Japan's Role and the World Order in the 21st Century, a panel of preeminent academics, journalists, business-persons, and others, which met in order to set out with greater clarity the points to be considered by Prime Minister Abe as he formulated his statement. The panel conducted a general review of the points instrumental in preparing the Abe Statement through presentations by Shinichi Kitaoka, Masayuki Yamauchi, Takashi Shiraishi, Naoya Okuwaki, Yukio Okamoto, Akihiko Tanaka, Fumiaki Kubo, Shin Kawashima, Shunji Hiraiwa, Masashi Haneda, and Yuichi Hosoya as well as discussions held among the panel members. This book, the outcome of highly accomplished specialists across a broad range of fields coming together to set out parameters for the recognition of history, is a must-read for discussing contemporary history that will be highly valued by anyone analyzing Prime Minister Abe's statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war and by the statement's supporters and critics alike." -- Publisher's description

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