安倍首相、日本がアジア諸国に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えたことを認める

ワシントンポストによる安倍首相に対するインタビューです。

Q: A number of people comment on your strong focus on the economy but also say that in your heart, the issues of history — and how Japan is perceived historically — is very important to you, so that eventually during your prime ministership those issues are bound to come out. I wonder if you could comment on that.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/transcript-of-interview-with-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe/2013/02/20/e7518d54-7b1c-11e2-82e8-61a46c2cde3d_story_2.html

Abe: Regarding what happened in the past, much like my predecessors, I believe that we caused tremendous damage and suffering to the countries of Asia. That is why Japan has been providing support and assistance to the countries of Asia even from the days when Japan was still a poor country. And I believe that the path Japan has taken has been the correct path. In the postwar years, we have attached great importance to pursuing the principles of freedom, democracy, basic human rights and the rule of law. I believe that was also a correct path. That is why, as I said previously, we have been making a great effort to further promote these values.

My basic notion regarding the matter of historical recognition is basically, it’s a matter that should be left to the good hands of historians and experts. And this is a position that I have been taking consistently ever since the first Abe government. This is a point that I have been making consistently ever since my first term in office, as well as in Diet deliberations and interviews.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/transcript-of-interview-with-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe/2013/02/20/e7518d54-7b1c-11e2-82e8-61a46c2cde3d_story_2.html

「過去の出来事について、これまでの総理同様に、日本がアジア諸国に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えたことと考えている」と安倍首相は述べていますね。

日経は「日本がアジア諸国に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」という安倍発言には触れず*1、後半部分のみ記事にしています。

　首相は「自分は歴史認識については歴史家に任せるべきだというのが基本姿勢だ。第１次安倍内閣のころから言い続けている」と強調。「（新談話では）日本がアジアでこれから果たしていくべき役割を語るべきだ」とした。

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS21005_R20C13A2EB1000/

Q: So, if you’re going to leave it to historians, does that mean you will let the statements of 1993 and 1995 stand as is? Or should there ultimately be a review of them?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/transcript-of-interview-with-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe/2013/02/20/e7518d54-7b1c-11e2-82e8-61a46c2cde3d_story_2.html

Abe: The Murayama Statement [in 1995] was issued on the 50th anniversary of the war end, and also on the 60th anniversary after World War II, Prime Minister Koizumi also issued a statement. I wish to issue a statement at an appropriate time, but as I mentioned earlier, it is my belief that politicians should not be stepping into the realm of history. Rather, politicians should be taking a future-oriented perspective, and that is the perspective from which I intend to issue a statement at the appropriate time.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/transcript-of-interview-with-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe/2013/02/20/e7518d54-7b1c-11e2-82e8-61a46c2cde3d_story_3.html

“it is my belief that politicians should not be stepping into the realm of history”とか二枚舌っぷりを遺憾なく発揮していますが、ワシントンポストでのインタビュー内容を見る限り、文言を素直に解釈すれば、歴史修正主義的な匂いがかなり消されています。もちろん、欧米諸国でそのように評される事を警戒しての対応だとは思います。

それに、歴史修正主義者の首相の下で、「上意」を忖度した対応がピースおおさかでの南京大虐殺展示排除などに現れているわけで、海外と日本国内の認識のズレが拡大していく状況には恐ろしいものがあります。

*1:他の記事で報道したのかもしれませんけど・・・