Problems of the historical past in Japan's relations with the countries of Asia: Reconciliation attempts

In this article, the author analyzes the post-war development of relations between Japan and Asian countries. This work tracks correlation between sustainable development of economic and political relations, on one hand, and gradual decrease of tension connected with the issues of historical past in the second part of the 20th century, on the other hand. The article addresses the issue of post-war relations between Japan and other Asian countries (PRC, Korea, Taiwan), as well as Southeast Asian countries (mainly Singapore, Indonesia). Besides, special attention is paid to the issues of historical memory related to the Japanese occupation of Indonesia and its consequences, specifically to the problem of the historical grievances of Dutch people towards Japan and the problem of children born to men from the Japanese military and local women. In the 1980s, the mothers of these children and the children themselves started visiting Japan. The visits were financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and included official meetings. At approximately the same time, the first trips for former Dutch POWs and those who had been forcibly conscripted to work in Japan were held. In the memorial places these people visited, memorial signs and steles were installed, which symbolized reconciliation on issues of historical memory. Traumatic experience produced by certain historical events is not the only issue here. Development of international ties after these events is also an important factor. The possibility of reconciliation or even overcoming such problems often depends on how positively and mutually beneficially such relations develop afterwards. Over time, especially as generations change and emotions connected with these traumatic events calm down, we can see preconditions for compromises and reconciliation. On the other hand, as tension between nations increases, the number of mutual claims is also increasing. If relations develop smoothly, especially if this process goes on for several generations, any offence or claim might be left behind and memory of it might even become a source of reconciliation.