Japanese war crimes occurred in Korea, China, and other Asian countries during the period of Japanese imperialism, primarily during World War II. Some of the incidents have been described as an Asian Holocaust. Most war crimes were committed by military personnel from the Empire of Japan in the late 19th century. Historians and governments of some countries hold Japanese military forces and the Imperial Japanese family, especially Emperor Hirohito, responsible for killings and other crimes committed against millions of civilians and prisoners of war. Some Japanese soldiers have admitted to committing these crimes.

However, Abe, the Japanese prime minister, told lawmakers on Tuesday that he does not believe Japan's occupation of other Asian countries during World War II can be considered “invasions.“ Abe claimed there are no set international or academic definitions of the word, and that it depends on the point of view of individual countries. Abe’s claims are  simply absurd. It's like saying Hitler's invasion of Poland wasn't really an invasion. If a German chancellor had said the same thing, he or she would have had to resign.

jessica wrote on Apr 26^th, 2013 at 4:05pm:

Abe claimed there are no set international or academic definitions of the word, and that it depends on the point of view of individual countries.

Well, then, if one of these countries calls them an invasion, then it was an invasion. Thank you Abe, for letting others judge your country's history.

jessica wrote on Apr 26^th, 2013 at 4:05pm:

“ Abe claimed there are no set international or academic definitions of the word, and that it depends on the point of view of individual countries.

What he says isn't so far fetched...cerca 1947 The United Nations clearly defined the boarders of Israel and Palestine, but since then the Israelis has been permanently on Palestinian land with soldiers and tanks creating new settlements...what would you call that?

Unfortunately when it comes to war there are no winner, especially when it come to the non combatant public...

In my opinion these crimes have been made by all sides at some degree, but unfortunately in some cases history is written (interpreted)  by the victor.

I think, jessica, you mean Japan is a country without conscience, which is a different thing from saying it lacks conscientiousness.
Two things I would say. First, the Japan of the WW2 period had been under a militaristic govt for about 30 years and, although industrialised, was still a backward country in terms of the standard of education of the mass of the people.
Second, as regards the reluctance of leaders to confess the country's sins, there is still a culture of a ruling elite in Japan and I don't think we truly understand their thinking.
However, I believe that the mass of the younger generations in Japan do not relate at all to what their grandparents did 70 years ago, just as young Germans on the whole can't comprehend what the hell happened or how it could have happened.

metal_j wrote on Apr 27^th, 2013 at 2:32pm:

jessica wrote on Apr 26th, 2013 at 4:05pm: “ Abe claimed there are no set international or academic definitions of the word, and that it depends on the point of view of individual countries. What he says isn't so far fetched...cerca 1947 The United Nations clearly defined the boarders of Israel and Palestine, but since then the Israelis has been permanently on Palestinian land with soldiers and tanks creating new settlements...what would you call that? Unfortunately when it comes to war there are no winner, especially when it come to the non combatant public... In my opinion these crimes have been made by all sides at some degree, but unfortunately in some cases history is written (interpreted)  by the victor.

Yes, I believe the Oxford dictionary refers to it as fascism.

,,,,it does seems as though Israel has been getting much bigger since 1947 and Palestine has been shrinking

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wh3I-F6pnk0/T6ul8CgIIrI/AAAAAAAAAaU/cDmxZoSt9xA/s1600/Palestinian+Loss+of+Land+Map+2010.jpg