On My Mind - Seventy Years Since World War II
NISHIKAWA Megumi / Journalist
October 15, 2015
Could the devastations of war experienced by the Japanese people serve as an effective deterrent against another war?
About a year ago, I wrote in my regular newspaper column that in view of the current international environment surrounding Japan, we needed the national security bills. On the possibility that the gradual reinterpretation of the Constitution would increase the risks of war, I pointed out that "the ‘devastating experience of war' that has been imprinted on the DNA of the Japanese people would act as a deterrent." There was an immediate response in the Letters from Readers section of the newspaper from a 78-year old woman who wrote that she was "astonished by such optimism."
It is certainly true that after seventy years, there are almost no opportunities to hear firsthand accounts of wartime experiences. In a symbolic move, the aging survivors of the Himeyuri Gakutotai – the "Lily Corps" of female student nurses who served on the frontlines toward the end of the Battle of Okinawa – have decided to end their storytelling seminars. In a few decades, those who remember the war will be all gone. On this point alone, we have no way to stop the "weathering of memory."
However, I believe that even without actual experience, the memory of the devastating war will continue to live on in the minds of the Japanese people. Of course, it would not be remembered in the same way as those who lived through the war. Theirs is an existential experience of having had their lives tossed about by an irrational force, which has left them with a compelling feeling that "this should never be repeated."
On the other hand, the generations who do not know the war are in a position to see the miseries of war more objectively and from a distance. Why did we start such a reckless war? Why did so many Japanese either support, or at least passively approve such a move? Why was there no opposition, even when defeat became evident? Even without the actual experience of war, we can reflect upon the past and its lessons. In addition, the fact that we live in a democratic society is also an important deterrent against war. No government can exist without heeding the will of its citizens.
When I was a young newspaper reporter who had just begun to cover international news, I held study sessions on European modern history with a French friend. At my friend's recommendation, we used the original book by a French historian as our text. The historian had this hypothesis: "From the 20th century onward, no country that started a war, experienced utter destruction of its land through defeat, and subsequently embraced democracy will ever launch another war."
Why? According to this historian, since World War I, wars have involved mobilizing the entire population, while advanced weaponry made wars of attrition the norm, and the horrors evoke a powerful aversion against war among people. Another point was that the memorial services and commemorative ceremonies held each year at various levels of society, by the state, local governments and voluntary groups, have played the role of passing down memories of war across generations.
I pointed out to my friend that Germany did launch two wars, in World War I and World War II. To this, my friend replied: "But during World War I, the ravages of war did not leave a mark on German soil." It was true that as the western front became deadlocked, revolution broke out from within and Germany had asked for a ceasefire. (Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of the historian, and am currently searching for the book.)
Of course, this is not to say we can rest in peace. I propose two courses of action. Teach Japanese modern history at school, up to the postwar period. Hold memorial ceremonies to mark milestone events such as the Japanese surrender on August 15, the dropping of the atomic bombs, the Battle of Okinawa, and the bombing of Tokyo. Commemorations are not only occasions for looking back on our past, but for refreshing our memories toward the future.
Megumi Nishikawa is contributing editor of Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.
About a year ago, I wrote in my regular newspaper column that in view of the current international environment surrounding Japan, we needed the national security bills. On the possibility that the gradual reinterpretation of the Constitution would increase the risks of war, I pointed out that "the ‘devastating experience of war' that has been imprinted on the DNA of the Japanese people would act as a deterrent." There was an immediate response in the Letters from Readers section of the newspaper from a 78-year old woman who wrote that she was "astonished by such optimism."
It is certainly true that after seventy years, there are almost no opportunities to hear firsthand accounts of wartime experiences. In a symbolic move, the aging survivors of the Himeyuri Gakutotai – the "Lily Corps" of female student nurses who served on the frontlines toward the end of the Battle of Okinawa – have decided to end their storytelling seminars. In a few decades, those who remember the war will be all gone. On this point alone, we have no way to stop the "weathering of memory."
However, I believe that even without actual experience, the memory of the devastating war will continue to live on in the minds of the Japanese people. Of course, it would not be remembered in the same way as those who lived through the war. Theirs is an existential experience of having had their lives tossed about by an irrational force, which has left them with a compelling feeling that "this should never be repeated."
On the other hand, the generations who do not know the war are in a position to see the miseries of war more objectively and from a distance. Why did we start such a reckless war? Why did so many Japanese either support, or at least passively approve such a move? Why was there no opposition, even when defeat became evident? Even without the actual experience of war, we can reflect upon the past and its lessons. In addition, the fact that we live in a democratic society is also an important deterrent against war. No government can exist without heeding the will of its citizens.
When I was a young newspaper reporter who had just begun to cover international news, I held study sessions on European modern history with a French friend. At my friend's recommendation, we used the original book by a French historian as our text. The historian had this hypothesis: "From the 20th century onward, no country that started a war, experienced utter destruction of its land through defeat, and subsequently embraced democracy will ever launch another war."
Why? According to this historian, since World War I, wars have involved mobilizing the entire population, while advanced weaponry made wars of attrition the norm, and the horrors evoke a powerful aversion against war among people. Another point was that the memorial services and commemorative ceremonies held each year at various levels of society, by the state, local governments and voluntary groups, have played the role of passing down memories of war across generations.
I pointed out to my friend that Germany did launch two wars, in World War I and World War II. To this, my friend replied: "But during World War I, the ravages of war did not leave a mark on German soil." It was true that as the western front became deadlocked, revolution broke out from within and Germany had asked for a ceasefire. (Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of the historian, and am currently searching for the book.)
Of course, this is not to say we can rest in peace. I propose two courses of action. Teach Japanese modern history at school, up to the postwar period. Hold memorial ceremonies to mark milestone events such as the Japanese surrender on August 15, the dropping of the atomic bombs, the Battle of Okinawa, and the bombing of Tokyo. Commemorations are not only occasions for looking back on our past, but for refreshing our memories toward the future.
Megumi Nishikawa is contributing editor of Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
戦後70年―わたしはこう考える
西川 恵 / ジャーナリスト
2015年 10月 15日
日本人の悲惨な戦争体験はどれだけ戦争の抑止力になるのだろうか。
１年ほど前のことだが、私は定期的に寄稿している新聞社のコラムで、日本をとり巻く国際環境にあって安全保障関連法案は必要だと述べた。なし崩しの憲法の拡大解釈が戦争のリスクを招来することについて「日本人のＤＮＡに刷り込まれた『悲惨な戦争体験』が抑止として働くと思っている」と指摘した。その直後、その新聞社の読者欄に、78歳の女性から「あまりの楽観主義に驚いた」と意見をいただいた。
確かに戦後70年がたち、戦時中の実体験を聞く機会はほとんどなくなった。高齢となった「ひめゆり学徒隊」の生存者らが語り部の「講話」を終了したのはその象徴だ。あと何十年かすると戦争体験者はいなくなる。この点だけで言えば「記憶の風化」は止められない。
しかし、実体験がなくても悲惨な戦争の記憶は日本人の中に生き続けると私は考えている。もちろん戦争体験者と同じではない。体験者には理不尽なものに運命を翻弄された実存的な経験に基づく「二度とあってはならない」との切実な思いがある。
一方、戦争を知らない世代は、戦争の惨禍をより客観的に、距離を置いて見られる立場にある。なぜ無謀な戦争を起こしたのか。なぜ日本人の多くが支持、もしくは消極的にせよ認めたのか。敗色濃くなってもなぜ反対が起きなかったのか。戦争体験がなくても、教訓を含めて振り返れる。加えて我々が民主主義社会にあることも戦争への重要な抑止力である。民意を無視して政府は存立し得ない。
新聞社で国際ニュースを担当し始めた若き日、フランス人の友人と欧州の近現代史の勉強会をもった。友人が推薦したフランス人歴史家の原書を教科書にしたが、この歴史家は「20世紀以降、戦争を開始した国で、自国を徹底的に破壊されて敗れ、民主主義になった国は２度と戦争を起こさない」との仮説を立てていた。
なぜか。この歴史家によると、第一次大戦以降、戦争は総動員体制となり、兵器の発達で徹底した消耗戦がふつうのこととなって、その悲惨さに「二度と戦争は嫌だ」との強い感情を人々に惹起すること。そして毎年、国、自治体、有志グループなど、各レベルで持たれる慰霊祭や追悼式が、戦争の記憶を世代を超えて引き継ぐ役割を果たしていることを挙げていた。
ドイツは第一次、第二次大戦と、２度、戦争を始めたではないかと言うと、「第一次大戦では戦火はドイツ国内に及んでいない」と友人。確かにドイツは西部戦線の戦場は膠着状態だったが、国内で革命の火の手が上がり、休戦を申し入れた（残念ながらこの歴史家の名前を忘れ、いま本を探している）。
もちろん安穏としていても大丈夫と言うのではない。やるべきことを二つ挙げたい。日本の近現代史を戦後まで、学校できちんと教えること。８・15、原爆忌、沖縄戦、東京大空襲など、節目の日に追悼式をもつこと。追悼とは振り返るだけでなく、未来に向けて記憶を新たにすることだからだ。
（筆者は毎日新聞客員編集委員）
１年ほど前のことだが、私は定期的に寄稿している新聞社のコラムで、日本をとり巻く国際環境にあって安全保障関連法案は必要だと述べた。なし崩しの憲法の拡大解釈が戦争のリスクを招来することについて「日本人のＤＮＡに刷り込まれた『悲惨な戦争体験』が抑止として働くと思っている」と指摘した。その直後、その新聞社の読者欄に、78歳の女性から「あまりの楽観主義に驚いた」と意見をいただいた。
確かに戦後70年がたち、戦時中の実体験を聞く機会はほとんどなくなった。高齢となった「ひめゆり学徒隊」の生存者らが語り部の「講話」を終了したのはその象徴だ。あと何十年かすると戦争体験者はいなくなる。この点だけで言えば「記憶の風化」は止められない。
しかし、実体験がなくても悲惨な戦争の記憶は日本人の中に生き続けると私は考えている。もちろん戦争体験者と同じではない。体験者には理不尽なものに運命を翻弄された実存的な経験に基づく「二度とあってはならない」との切実な思いがある。
一方、戦争を知らない世代は、戦争の惨禍をより客観的に、距離を置いて見られる立場にある。なぜ無謀な戦争を起こしたのか。なぜ日本人の多くが支持、もしくは消極的にせよ認めたのか。敗色濃くなってもなぜ反対が起きなかったのか。戦争体験がなくても、教訓を含めて振り返れる。加えて我々が民主主義社会にあることも戦争への重要な抑止力である。民意を無視して政府は存立し得ない。
新聞社で国際ニュースを担当し始めた若き日、フランス人の友人と欧州の近現代史の勉強会をもった。友人が推薦したフランス人歴史家の原書を教科書にしたが、この歴史家は「20世紀以降、戦争を開始した国で、自国を徹底的に破壊されて敗れ、民主主義になった国は２度と戦争を起こさない」との仮説を立てていた。
なぜか。この歴史家によると、第一次大戦以降、戦争は総動員体制となり、兵器の発達で徹底した消耗戦がふつうのこととなって、その悲惨さに「二度と戦争は嫌だ」との強い感情を人々に惹起すること。そして毎年、国、自治体、有志グループなど、各レベルで持たれる慰霊祭や追悼式が、戦争の記憶を世代を超えて引き継ぐ役割を果たしていることを挙げていた。
ドイツは第一次、第二次大戦と、２度、戦争を始めたではないかと言うと、「第一次大戦では戦火はドイツ国内に及んでいない」と友人。確かにドイツは西部戦線の戦場は膠着状態だったが、国内で革命の火の手が上がり、休戦を申し入れた（残念ながらこの歴史家の名前を忘れ、いま本を探している）。
もちろん安穏としていても大丈夫と言うのではない。やるべきことを二つ挙げたい。日本の近現代史を戦後まで、学校できちんと教えること。８・15、原爆忌、沖縄戦、東京大空襲など、節目の日に追悼式をもつこと。追悼とは振り返るだけでなく、未来に向けて記憶を新たにすることだからだ。
（筆者は毎日新聞客員編集委員）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟