Japanese WWII Survivors Seek Apology

As the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II approaches in 2025, the country’s dwindling group of war survivors has issued what may be their final plea: for the Japanese government to offer a formal apology for wartime decisions and the domestic tragedies caused by its delayed surrender.

These survivors lived through events such as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Tokyo firebombing, the Battle of Okinawa, and even extreme government orders for civilian suicides. They argue that the government has long emphasized Japan’s status as a “defeated victim,” while rarely acknowledging civilian suffering or the costs of militarism. In interviews with ABC, several survivors, many now in their 90s, expressed despair, criticizing how the postwar peace constitution is treated as a constraint rather than a symbol of peace. They also highlighted the lack of adequate historical education in Japan, noting that many young people know little about WWII.

Japan’s official apologies have mostly focused on its actions toward Asian neighbors. However, it remains relatively silent about civilian casualties and policy failures within its own borders. As this generation passes, their absence could leave critical wartime truths without direct witnesses, intensifying their sense of urgency and frustration.