How does Japan perceive its postwar history?

 Japan continues to face tensions with its neighboring countries over historical issues. In particular, relations between Japan and South Korea, as well as Japan and China, have long been strained over matters such as colonial rule, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the issue of "comfort women" used by the Japanese military, and controversies surrounding history textbooks. Many people wonder: Why has Japan failed to come to terms with its past? Why does it deny or distort historical truths rather than addressing them honestly?

 Professor Sumio Hatano, Professor Emeritus of Japanese Political and Diplomatic History at the University of Tsukuba, identifies the root cause of these historical issues in the San Francisco Peace Treaty signed in 1951. This treaty, which marked the postwar settlement following Japan’s defeat in the Pacific War, was primarily shaped by the United States. The original U.S. draft included strict terms addressing Japan’s war responsibility, the prosecution of war criminals, and significant reparations.

 However, Professor Hatano explains the historical and political context that led to a very different final version of the treaty—one that significantly softened these provisions. He emphasizes how this shift had a profound impact on Japan’s perception of its war responsibility. Under the framework of the San Francisco Peace Treaty system, Hatano objectively analyzes how the Japanese government has handled historical issues and how these responses have fueled diplomatic tensions with neighboring countries.

 Through this lecture, Professor Hatano explores how Japan might overcome its strained relations with neighboring nations entangled in historical disputes, and what steps it must take to move forward.