Japan saw embarrassment, confusion and unease on Saturday after President Donald Trump cited Japan’s 1941 attack on US forces at Pearl Harbor to justify his secrecy before launching the war against Iran, with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seated beside him in Washington.
Both sides needed each other, with Washington relying on Japan to host 50,000 troops and an array of powerful hi-tech weapons, and Japan relying on the US nuclear umbrella to deter hostile, nuclear-armed neighbours. Many in Japan pointed to the example of former leaders Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe, who in 2016 paid tribute together at the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and at the Hiroshima Peace Park. Junji Miyako, 53, said Takaichi flattering Trump felt more condescending to him than the President’s Pearl Harbor remark.
Because other countries, including Japan, were being asked to help out, the reporter, Morio Chijiiwa with TV Asahi, later said on a talk show that he asked the question to represent the feelings of Japanese who were not happy about Trump’s one-sided attack on Iran, and. “So that’s why I asked the question. The discomfort was compounded by the sensitivity surrounding public comments on Pearl Harbor by senior US and Japanese officials, who tend to avoid anything but careful remarks on the subject, Politico reported.
“As national leaders, they are equals. … To make an equal relationship is not to flatter,” he said. I was meaning to say, Why didn’t you tell us, why are you troubling us?” he said. “I was so frustrated to see Takaichi didn’t even say anything to Trump to stop the war,” he said. “I think Trump’s Pearl Harbor comment was stupid, but to me the war he started is a much bigger problem.”
There was also a feeling that an unspoken understanding existed between US and Japanese leaders to tread carefully on the subject. Japan’s post-World War II constitution banned the use of force except for its self-defence, but Takaichi and other officials were seeking to expand the military’s role. Takaichi, described as a hard-line conservative, was praised for not reacting to Trump’s comments, letting them pass with a roll of her eyes and a glance at her ministers seated nearby. Her summit goal was to deepen ties with her most important ally, not debate World War II. She arrived shortly after Trump suggested Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz. Some, however, criticised Takaichi for not speaking up. Hitoshi Tanaka, a former diplomat and a special adviser at the Japan Research Institute think tank, wrote on X that he felt embarrassed to see Takaichi flattering Trump. “Just doing what pleases Trump and calling it a success if you are not hurt is too sad. Watch US Military Targeted In Iraq As Proxy War Explodes, Missiles Hit Key Bases | Watch There was initial blame on social media of the Japanese reporter who asked the question that prompted Trump’s Pearl Harbor comment. “Then President Trump hit back with the Pearl Harbor attack. … I found it extremely awkward for him to change the subject.
The episode also reflected how fresh the political debate about Japan’s role in World War II remained, even 80 years after its end. Takaichi recently hinted at visiting Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine, where Japanese war criminals were honoured among the 2.5 million war dead.
The liberal leaning Asahi newspaper said in an editorial Saturday that Trump’s comments “should not be overlooked. US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Amazon Web Services ‘disrupted’ following drone attack in Bahrain; Saudi, UAE mull joining Iran war 82nd Airborne Division to be deployed in Middle East: Inside America’s fastest strike force that once stormed Nazi-occupied France ‘Lack of permission’: Iran turns back Pakistan-bound ship trying to pass through Strait of Hormuz “Making such a remark to justify a sneak attack and boast about its outcome is a piece of nonsense that ignores lessons from history,” Asahi said. There were calls for Japan to protest what Trump said. Tsuneo Watanabe, a senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, said in an online opinion piece published in the Nikkei newspaper Saturday that the comment signalled that Trump was “not bound by existing American common sense. Takaichi into complicity in order to justify his ‘sneak attack’ on Iran during diplomatic negotiations and without telling allied countries,” Watanabe said.
Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK? Social media reaction ranged from accusations of ignorance and rudeness by the US president to claims that he did not see Japan as an equal partner. “I get the impression that the comment was intended to bring the Japanese reporter (who asked the question) or Ms. Part of the reaction was linked to the crucial security and economic role the US played for Japan, its top ally in the region, and Japan’s need to ensure the relationship thrived, which was why Takaichi was in Washington. Senior leaders, including Takaichi, argued that Japan apologised enough for what happened in the war. It was seen as startling in Japan that these history questions spilled over into a White House summit.
On Thursday, when asked by a Japanese reporter why he did not tell allies in Europe and Asia ahead of the US attack on Iran, Trump cited Pearl Harbor to defend his decision, saying, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan?