On August 15, DPJ President Katsuya Okada released the following statement.

On this 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, I would like to offer my deepest condolences for all the victims of the conflict both at home and abroad.

Based upon the serious lessons learned and the deep remorse felt for both our pre-war colonial rule and aggression, and for the loss of more than 3 million Japanese lives in a futile war, post-war Japan has built a peaceful and prosperous democracy under the auspices of its pacifist Constitution. At the same time, it has made great contributions to the peace and stability of the international community in the shape of economic cooperation, humanitarian assistance, peace-keeping operations and the like. We should feel proud, both internationally and historically, of the direction Japan has taken during the post-war period.

However, the Abe administration is now attempting to drastically alter the national framework that underpins the path followed by our nation for the past 70 years.

One sign of this is that the government has changed the interpretation of the Constitution to permit the use of the right to collective self-defense. The security-related legislation proposed by the government is likely to transform the nature of the pacifism that is at the core of our Constitution. We are furious that the government continues to push forward with this legislation despite the fact that the majority of the Japanese people find the administration’s explanation to be inadequate. The Democratic Party of Japan, spurred on by the concerned and angry voices of the people, is determined to make every effort to have the government legislation scrapped.

Another example of this drastic shift relates to the issue of historical perceptions and reconciliation with other Asian nations. In his Statement marking the 70th anniversary of WWII’s end, Prime Minister Abe did not state clearly that Japan had engaged in colonial rule and aggression. Moreover, in his press conference upon the release of the Statement, he commented that the question of whether Japan’s actions amounted to aggression should be left to the judgement of future generations of historians. Such behavior may shake the relationship of trust which successive Cabinets have built up with Asian nations. Furthermore, the Statement states that: “We must not let our children, grandchildren and even further generations to come…be predestined to apologize.” But it is precisely the words and actions of Prime Minister Abe himself that have been creating mistrust and anxiety amongst the nations of Asia, and he should once again express remorse for this behavior.

The Democratic Party of Japan recognizes the fact of Japan’s colonial rule and aggression, and values the historical perception shown in the Statements of Prime Ministers Murayama and Koizumi, both of which express heartfelt remorse and sincere apology. We will continue to uphold the historical perception of these Statements. Japan should not squander the repeated efforts made by previous generations towards reconciliation. Instead it should look squarely at the historical facts, and promote diplomacy based on creating a relationship of trust with Asian nations, taking a humble stance that honestly admits past mistakes.

As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of WWII’s end, Japan stands at a major crossroads. As its Constitution revision proposal clearly states, the LDP-led Abe government aims to permit unrestricted use of the right to collective self-defense, and turn Japan into a nation that can engage in the use of force overseas as a matter of course. In contrast, the DPJ aims to create a Japan that restricts the use of force based on the lessons learned from and the remorse felt for the War, and on the pacifist spirit of the Constitution. We believe that Japan should continue to develop foreign and security policies founded on the pacifism that is the core of our Constitution, as well as recognizing the importance of promoting reconciliation with Asian nations. We call on the people of Japan to share our sense of crisis and resolve, and to decide which of these two paths they wish to take.