Go to contents

Two Haruki`s theory of repeated apologies

Posted April. 18, 2015 07:12,   

한국어

"Between a high, solid wall and an egg that breaks against it, I will always stand on the side of the egg."

Japanese novelist Haruki Murakimi likened Israel and Palestine to the “wall” and an “egg” in his speech in 2009 when he was awarded with Jerusalem Prize, the most prestigious literary award in Israel. Standing in the country that was granting the prize, he didn’t hesitate to speak in a straightforward manner. As for the Israeli army’s invasion to Gaza district, he criticized by saying that “more than a thousand people had lost their lives in the blockaded Gaza City, many of them unarmed citizens - children and old people.”

This time, Haruki lashed out against the Abe administration. “Even though the counterpart country’s anger doesn’t completely melt away, we have no choice but to keep apologizing until that country says ‘You have done enough’,” said Haruki in an interview with the Tokyo Shimbun on Thursday. He said, “Historical perception is very important and making a sincere and heartfelt apology is what matters. Making an apology is not something to be ashamed of.” A piece of bitter yet sound advice for the Abe administration up for “the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II” slated for August this year.

“The Japanese government should keep making apology and atonement to victims of comfort women,” said another Haruki, implying that Japan should make a “repeated apologies.” He is a professor emeritus from University of Tokyo and has taken the initiative in solving Japan’s comfort women issues. Known as activist intellectual, he stressed at an interview in Korea that “Only the person who actually experienced it and directly involved in it can say, ‘Now, it’s ok. I understand’.” The U.S. joint session of Congress with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on April 29 should contain a detailed solution for comfort women.

It is known that the Abe administration plans to express its remorse over the World War II but not to make an apology at a summit speech in 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. The Japanese government seems to think that the time is on its side. Is it that they believe oblivion will inevitably take the victory when all the generation who can testify “what happened when” is gone? The two Harukis are concerned about “the illness of oblivion” that purposely erases and distorts the shameful memory. The Japanese government is advised to listen to the conscious voice of them.



mskoh119@donga.com