Witness to War: Ichiro Koyama

Segments from an interview with former Japanese soldier Ichiro Koyama, 88, for The Japan Times' Witness to War series. For the accompanying story, see http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090409w1.html

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• war
• world
• II
• china
• japan
• interview

[ribomatic]

fall back with the unnecessary "japs" remark. state your comments in a mature way so that it matters.

[easternbreezeplum]

He is a famous member of CHU-KI-REN, a party of Japanese soldiers detained for a long time and supposed to be brainwashed in China. Thier words were denied by not a few people, mainly the soldiers in the same unit. See, for example, the book "Kensho Kyuu Nihongun no Akugyou (Verification of the misdeeds by Japanese old army)" by Toshio Tanabe.

[kenseisato1989]

this is what kills me about the japanese goverment, they deniy these facts that ex veteren soldiers tell their story and never makes the news.

i think this man is cool. Unlike other japanese ex soldiers his got enough balls to say what he did. he has totally repented. He has accepted what he has done and is now ready to recieve his punishment after death. but im shure he will RIP after he pays for his sins.

2:13

he says "mendokusai" wich means - annoying, bothersome.

[BotakTrees]

WARNING: Below is just a Google MACHINE TRANSLATION. Please read it in the best possible light ;-) 私には、この男は偉大な英雄です。賢明な、思いやりのある、人間­と人間。彼は非常に日本の最高の表現（さらには、アジア）とので­きる多くの人が日本語とを切望する必要があります。氏小山いただ­きありがとうございます。あなたは私の深い尊敬と友情をしている

[BotakTrees]

I am an ethic Chinese in south-east Asia. To me, this man is a great hero. Wise, compassionate, human and humane. He represents the very best of Japan(and even Asia) and what many Japanese are capable of and should aspire to. Thank you, Mr Koyama. You have my deepest respect and friendship.

[mehdan2]

what are some examples of brainwash ?

[mehdan2]

breezeplum is a Japanese right winger and conservative who feels Japan is innocent

[kkklownknight6699]

Interesting

[jfy1155]

easternbreezeplum ,

so are you insisting that he should not apologize for killing innocent chinese?

[lee2360]

As a Korean, I also agree that this old man had at least the courage to admit his country's wrong doing. I find it particulaly painful because my own grandfather, just like millions of other young Korean men in his generation, was forced to undergo 16-hours of backbreaking work in a Japanese coal mine. Some Japanese seem to believe that they are the victims of the war -- but honestly, I think they had it coming. What about comfort women who also suffered indescribable pain & suffering?