Farewell to Pacifism: Japan is rearming | DW Documentary

In 1945, under US occupation, the Japanese constitution was created. Toshiko Tanaka, then six years old, had survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. She hoped that this "peace constitution” would prevent wars in the future. But now, Japan is arming itself again.

After 1945, Japan was the only country in the world to commit itself to renouncing war in its constitution. But in the face of increasing dangers, the island nation has now announced a rearmament program. By the end of this decade, Japan could become the third strongest military power in the world. The pacifism born of the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has given way to fear of aggressive neighbors like China, Russia and North Korea.
Under conservative governments and in view of the increasing withdrawal of the once-protective USA, the Japanese armed forces have acquired weapons systems. These include amphibious vehicles, US F-35 fighter jets and two aircraft carriers. There is enough plutonium from civilian use in the country to produce up to a thousand nuclear warheads. Missile systems are also available.
Asia is the key to the future. This documentary shows a new side of Japan and provides insight into the military changes that are taking place there - far from the war in Ukraine. Toshiko Tanaka, one of the last hibakusha, as the survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings are called, fears war once more.

#documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs #japan
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[Moss_piglets]

I don't blame Japan for rearming or the Philippines for pushing to militarize themselves. When there's a threat you have to protect yourself. It's sad that after WWII and countless wars that followed, you'd think people will learn their lessons! We all know that the innocent will be caught in the middle while the poor are sent to die. My grandpa lost 4 older brothers during WWII. He was sent to the Pacific as soon as he turned 18 and came back a pacifist. My grandpa always said that as long as there is greed in the world and people allow it to thrive, there will never be peace.

[lalrawngbawlazote]

A German news channel reporting about Japan's re-armament!

[backto-ilne]

As the should. They are surrounded by hostile forces. They would be dumb not to fortify themselves.

[davidanalyst]

2:05 "We (japan) suffered so much during war that we renounced it" Look. Imma be honest here. What history books are you reading that you think Japan suffered during ww2? China suffered during ww2. Phillippinnes suffered during ww2. Russia suffered under ww2. Indonesia suffered during WW2. Thousands of small islanders were genocided at the hand of Japanese soldiers. Its been 80 years since ww2, but two atomic bombs is not enough for you to say you suffered, when you were in China performing mass rapes, mass genocides, genocides on all pacific Islands, and performed explicit torture on POWs. You don't get to say Japan suffered during WW2. Japan was the cause of everyone else's suffering. Your history book is wrong.

[AlexKoston]

“si vis pacem para bellum”

There’s no other way to accurately describe it.

[jonpitts]

Just because you have renounced war doesn't mean your enemy's won't destroy you all the same. Japan paid dearly for there mistakes but now they deserve peace and to defend there country like everyone else

[TheReaper-epcq]

It's so weird our allies of the past have become our enemies and our enemies have become our allies.

[skrongo]

This was 51 minutes of China is really close to Japan.

[lordmashie]

As an overseas Japanese (tbh I'm only Japanese by blood, I've lived in the west my whole life), I can acknowledge that Japan has some real catching up to do in terms of coming to terms with its past. Doing so would do wonders with allies like South Korea that face similar threats. But I really don't understand the mentality of these peace-activists and I hate how this stance is mostly associated with the right-wing nutjobs of Japan. Re-arming doesn't necessarily mean you're starting a war; it's about being ready if _another country_ starts a war that forces you into it. Aggressive and belligerent countries _are_ real. The best way to _prevent_ a war being forced upon you is _deterrence._

[awakenedjuan]

We Filipinos support Japan! We are young population but lack of new technology and weapons. You've got those what we don't have, but you have no younger population to use them. We can help each other, help us modernize our military and we will help you defend your country.

[MarcoDollenz]

Amazing that Russia has made all the surrounding powers much more dangerous

[Spoon]

I live in Ishigaki, the site of Japan’s newest military base; it was quite interesting to see how quickly the base was constructed. Within 6 months the first housing complex for soldiers and their families were complete and naval boats could be seen engaging in morning maneuvers. The problem though is that the older folks on the island are concerned that situating a military base on here has officially made Ishigaki island a potential target during any possible invasion of Taiwan; secondly, the Japanese military is so undermanned that they have more equipment that actual soldiers to utilize them. Despite all the recruitment campaigns they’re conducting, even in high schools, I don’t think that severe manpower shortage could easily be resolved and made to keep pace with the high pace of military expenditure increments. The government should also endeavor to make the military a more attractive occupation as at the moment people that enter the military are usually seen as folks that failed in achieving something better in life or have a rebellious nature (especially against the wishes of their parents) and believe it may be cool to be in the military -ofcourse most end up serving for no more than a year. This is based off of what I have seen, discussed with veterans, old locals and the military acquaintances I’ve made over the past 2 to 3 years. It is because of this seemingly inevitable weaknesses that’s why there are increasing calls for nuclear arms as a deterrent.

[julianmansell]

The reason for Japan to learn is because of the aggressive behavior of China, there is no choice now. Germany will rearm too because of Russia.

[chong]

Im a younger filipino im on mid 20's most of my same age here in manila are ready to engage and defend our country we need each other we can win if the china attack us!!

[fmiddleton]

They need to build up, every nation has the right to defend themselves from attack.

[mortenrobinson]

Only natural. The current tensions in the world have pretty much made pacifism obsolete.

[lighthummer]

thanks DW for the quality of the documentary, as always.

[FuryanJedi]

4:57 I remember reading the book 'Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes' in school. A story of both hope and tragedy.

The fact this woman actually knew the real Sadako in life, and went to the same school as her... it really hits me in the feels.

[PherPhur]

The military on that Island doesn't make you a target, the land you're standing on does. No matter how you cut it, you're in danger if you live there.

[AsAbovesobelow]

There is a saying that goes: you don't decide when the war starts, your enemy does!

And as the Latins used to say:
"Si vis Pacem Para Bellum"