Aussie POW witness to the Hioshima bombing returns to Japan

TarJak · 11-11-13, 06:50 AM

Quote:

The trip to Japan also included many opportunities to meet and share stories with the locals - something Mr Edwards relished.

"The Japanese people were so beautiful, and they still are," he said.

"They're courteous, kind, they laugh a lot - so my opinion of the Japanese people has never altered.

"It was only the IJA - the Imperial Japanese Army - that were brutal to us."

Associate Professor Sakuma says the Japanese government has been running the Friendship Building program for the past three years, and it has also offered formal apologies to ex-POWs.

"These things should have been done earlier - but this is a huge step," he said.

The Friendship Building Program is run by the Japanese Government. That's about as official as the apology is likely to get.

Sailor Steve · 11-11-13, 07:26 AM

What a story. What an experience.

Bubblehead1980 · 11-11-13, 06:54 PM

Great story.

Comment on the Japan not telling students etc about their war time atrocities, well I see why they would not, but they should. I remember being at the Naval Aviation Museum back home in Florida one time when I was growing up, there was a group of Japanese students and their chaperone/translator who translated what the tour guide(an elderly Marine Aviator from WW II) and hurried them past certain exhibits to avoid questions I am sure. I guess to a degree I understand it, but then one must know the past mistakes of their people so do not repeat them.

11-11-13, 07:26 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	What a story. What an experience. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

11-11-13, 06:54 PM	#3
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 7,134 Downloads: 606 Uploads: 44	Great story. Comment on the Japan not telling students etc about their war time atrocities, well I see why they would not, but they should. I remember being at the Naval Aviation Museum back home in Florida one time when I was growing up, there was a group of Japanese students and their chaperone/translator who translated what the tour guide(an elderly Marine Aviator from WW II) and hurried them past certain exhibits to avoid questions I am sure. I guess to a degree I understand it, but then one must know the past mistakes of their people so do not repeat them.