A Russian scholar on Thursday warned of a growing danger of historical revisionism and a potential revival of nationalist ideology in Japan, as the Tokyo Trials is marking the 80th Anniversary on May 3.
From May 3, 1946, to Nov 12, 1948, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East tried Class-A Japanese war criminals during World War II in a series of international trials in Tokyo, known as the "Tokyo Trial."
Speaking in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), German Artamonov, a professor with Russia's Moscow State Pedagogical University, noted that the right-wing forces in Japan threaten to undermine these historical truths and create a risk of revanchism.
"The significance of the Tokyo Trials is quite substantial, because had it not taken place, one could argue that the World War II would not have been truly concluded, its results would not have been finalized, and, equally importantly, no legal and judicial assessment would have been given to the crimes, monstrous and unprecedented in world history, that were committed during the World War II," said Artamonov.
The professor also said that this view is not universally shared within Japan's current political landscape.
"As for the right-wing forces in Japan, I must say that I am deeply convinced that far from all political forces in Japan share this viewpoint. Moreover, in fairness, it should be noted that Japan's leaders in the postwar period have repeatedly publicly acknowledged these crimes and offered apologies. Japan's educational programs generally include historical sections specifically devoted to condemning the country's wartime crimes. However, the possibility of revanchism and the recurrence, the renewed revival of this Nazi ideology, in today's world does exist. Unfortunately, that is the case. But I believe that humanity will have enough experience and enough common sense," Artamonov said.
He then highlighted that Russia and China share a unified stance on this issue.
"I believe that the positions of Russia and China on this matter are fully aligned. They stand in solidarity in order to prevent the recurrence of such a catastrophe, a humanitarian catastrophe. The crimes committed during the World War II have no statute of limitations. If we forget about them, if we cease to remember them, we risk allowing them to happen again," said Artamonov.
Russian scholar warns of Japanese revanchism as Tokyo Trials mark 80th anniversary
