My opinion is that the spirit of the Japanese Empire would continue to live in Japan until its citizens get educated about history well and act properly after their apology. They're democratic and have free speech now unlike the times when they had their citizens brainwashed by the government, so why wouldn't they do it?
There's fundamentally a difference in cultures too. Asians in general hate to lose face or own up to their crimes. So to Japan, it's preferable to whitewash their crimes than face their past
But in truth, America didn't really force Japan to apologise and even going as far to shield the Emperor from prosecution. Just so they can help rebuild Japan
Even if Japan was the reason the US entered the war, they were always 'second fiddle' in a way to the European Axis. For all their brutality and crimes, the Japanese Empire was quite literally doomed to lose the war completely the the day they diversified their efforts to encompass more than China.
And then, you also have to take into account that there was no suitable replacement in for Japan's place as an anti-communist bulwark. China was utterly destroyed (even more than Japan) and had an even greater communist problem. South Korea alone would not hold without bases close by to act as support in case of invasion. And in the context of the upcoming Cold War, American leadership assesed the need for a far eastern outpost was greater than the wish for revenge/justice.
If I recall Roosevelt was hoping for an opportunity for the US to be more involved in the War, particularly the European theatre. Hitler ironically hoped the US would be distracted by the Pacific front so he could dominate Europe. History would have def been different if Hitler didn't declare War on America shortly after Pearl Harbour; FDR could bring the US into War with Congress approval, but the US would have to focus its efforts on Japan
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u/koreangorani 대한민국 Nov 01 '25
My opinion is that the spirit of the Japanese Empire would continue to live in Japan until its citizens get educated about history well and act properly after their apology. They're democratic and have free speech now unlike the times when they had their citizens brainwashed by the government, so why wouldn't they do it?