Commentary: Merkel's history lesson for Japan's Abe admirable

As a seasoned political leader and also the one at the helm of Europe's largest economy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel knows better than to ruffle the feathers of her host during foreign trips.

But she may have courageously made an exception during her recent visit in Japan when she made remarks concerning Germany's historic contrition for World War II (WWII), at a time when sentiments are high among several Asian countries over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempt to water down the country's guilt for its wartime atrocities.

Merkel said in a public speech on Monday in Tokyo that her country has won forgiveness from its European neighbors over Nazi Germany's role in WWII "first because Germany did face its past squarely."

A day later, during a meeting with Japan's main opposition leader, Merkel also urged Japan to properly address the issue of "comfort women", tens of thousands that were forced into sex slavery for Japanese troops during WWII.

The remarks, highlighted by media outlets across the world, is an epitome of the truthful perception of history by generations of political leaders in post-war Germany.

Also on the defeated side of the war, Japan, however, marks a stark contrast with Germany in confronting its heinous role in the war.

Not to mention the almost nonstop effort by Japan's right-wing forces to whitewash the country's aggression during WWII, various Japanese leaders have also shown a lack of sincere apology for those who suffered bitterly under Japan's invasion and colonial rule during the war, with sitting prime minister Abe a member of the loathsome club.

With a track record of zealously catering to the rightist sentiments concerning the war, Abe has recently raised quite some eyebrows both at home and abroad with controversial remarks in regard to Japan's role in the war.

In apparent efforts to address such concern that he may seek to replace the landmark war-repentant Murayama Statement with one of his own on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender in August, Abe said he will "inherit" the statement in general but not be confined to using the exact same wording.

No matter how skillful Abe will be in touting "peace", "development" and "contribution" in his statement, the document is nothing but a historical revisionist manifesto if it lacks such key words as "colonial rule" and "invasion."

If Abe really wants Japan to be trusted and embraced by its neighbors, who remain suspicious of the country's sincerity in reflecting on its inhuman wartime crimes, he should heed the history lesson taught by Merkel: Only by facing up to the past, one finds the path to the future. Endi