DPJ Leader Ichiro Ozawa Calls For American A-Bomb Apology

Japan’s main opposition party is on the attack following Defense Minister Kyuma’s gaffe over the weekend, in which he said the atomic bombings of Japan “couldn’t be helped.” It appears that the DPJ wants America to apologize for dropping the bombs:

Kyuma, speaking on June 30, said the atomic bombings of two of Japan’s cities helped to end the war from the U.S. point of view. The comments drew criticism from survivors of the bombings and Kyuma yesterday apologized at a press conference, Kyodo News reported.

“I want Mr. Kyuma to serve in his capacity as defense minister to work to abolish nuclear weapons,” Abe said yesterday in a debate in Tokyo with Ichiro Ozawa, head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Abe reiterated his stance today, saying Kyuma had retracted his remarks.

Ozawa called Kyuma’s comments “unacceptable,” and said Japan should call for a formal apology from the U.S. for the bombings. Abe, who called the nuclear attack “unforgivable,” said asking for such an apology was unrealistic given that the U.S. is obliged to defend Japan militarily.

Abe and his party in major trouble, with the PM’s approval rating at an appalling level and an upper house election coming soon. Can this move by Ozawa be considered a response to the US House of Representatives’ moves towards passing a resolution demanding that Japan issue further apologies for the actions of its military during the war? And if the DPJ manages to gain a strong position in the Upper House, will they make further moves to demand that America apologizes for Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Update: I just searched around YouTube for some videos about the issue, and I found this documentary about Hiroshima produced by the non-profit anti-nuclear weapons group 10 Feet Project. It is called The Lost Generation, and features interviews with survivors, as well as horrific footage of bomb victims: