Japanese—A Model of Peace

JAPANESE—A MODEL OF PEACE Khushwant Singh, the editor of The Hindustan Times (New Delhi), visited Japan and found something remarkable. While the rest of the world has used the Hiroshima and Nagasaki incidents as a propaganda tool against America, the Japanese themselves do not hold resentment over these events. When Singh asked his Japanese companion about it, he received an unexpected response delivered in a calm tone: “We hit them first at Pearl Harbor, killing many of them. They warned us of what they were going to do, but we thought they were only bluffing. They retaliated openly and fairly, with no deception. Once, we were adversaries; now, we are friends.” (Hindustan Times, April 4, 1981) In Hiroshima, a memorial for the victims of the atomic bomb has been established, known as the Peace Museum, which displays images of the devastation caused by war. Every year, approximately seven million Japanese visit Hiroshima to witness these reminders. Conversations reveal that, although some Japanese still harbour resentment against America, they do not express it in their actions. Instead, they veil these feelings under a mantle of realism. This pragmatic attitude enabled Japan to make remarkable progress within a short period following the war. Despite the lack of natural resources like oil and mineral mines and the need to import most raw materials, Japan today dominates global markets with the high quality of its products. This resilience and adaptability illustrate Japan’s ability to look past grievances and focus on constructive goals.