Japanese Air Force Chief to be Fired for WW2 Opinion

31 Oct 2008

"Even now, there are many people who think that our country's 'aggression' caused unbearable suffering to the countries of Asia during the Greater East Asia War", wrote Japan Air Self-Defense Force chief General Toshio Tamogami in a personal essay. "But we need to realise that many Asian countries take a positive view of the Greater East Asia War.... It is certainly a false accusation to say that our country was an aggressor nation." Instead, he believed that Franklin Roosevelt's political and economic pressures on Japan provoked Japan into war.

After this essay appeared on a website, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada announced that this view ran against Japan's official position, "[t]herefore it is inappropriate for him to remain in this position and I will swiftly dismiss him". "What he said was inappropriate for an air chief of staff", Hamada also said.

For more information:
BBC: Japan air force chief faces sack



Back to Main | Back to 2008 News Index




Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Please help us spread the word:

 Reddit
 Bluesky
 Mastodon

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds


Visitor Submitted Comments

1. vesey says:
4 Nov 2008 09:58:56 PM

the real problem is the lack of honest history books in Japan's schools portraying things in an anti-american perspective. It's ironic because we have the same problem in America's history school books promoting an anti-american perspective to our children......
2. michael mirando says:
6 May 2010 10:20:33 AM

It would continue the ignorance which played a significant part in causing WW2 to continue to say/believe that the policies of the then GOV. of the US did not contribute to the war. Clearly the then US political posture forced hard choices upon the GOV. of Japan. Hind sight, like victory often erases pertinent truth.

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name 
Your Webite 
Your Email 
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type 
Your Comments 
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.
Search WW2DB
News

Random Photograph

Soviet sailors marching on Nevsky Prospect, Leningrad, Russia, 1 Oct 1941

Current Site Statistics

Famous WW2 Quote
"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, 16 Mar 1945


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!