Obama and Abe have shown the primacy of truth rather than justice in achieving reconciliation and peace (28/12/2016)

　Hasegawa: “Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Barack Obama have achieved reconciliation by demonstrating their magnanimity and finding more value in recognizing truth than pursing justice. Hopefully the leaders of Japan and its neighboring countries will succeed in making similar achievements.“

　At his lecture given at the International House of Japan in Tokyo on 26 January 2012, Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations analyzed the relationship among Truth (真実), Justice (正義), Reconciliation (和解) and Peace (平和) and emphasized the importance of leadership in achieving reconciliation.

　By acknowledging that Japan had fought two wars during WWII: one against the United States and its allies, and another one against Japan`s neighboring countries, Professor Hasegawa commended Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for having achieved full reconciliation and the relationship of mutual trust between Japan and the United States and expressed his confidence that the Prime Minister will succeed in achieving reconciliation between Japan and its neighboring countries.

The following diagrams were presented by Professor Sukedhiro Hasegawa during
his lecture four years ago about the relationship among
truth, justice, reconciliation and peace

In the retributive justice approach, justice is considered the key to achieving peace. It’s just
to punish those who started war and committed serious crimes to prevent
the recurrence of such crimes.

In the restorative justice approach, there is an emphasis on truth for achieving
reconciliation and peace. This is often called the Mandela approach as
President Nelson Mandela adopted this approach and succeeded in
achieving a peaceful social transition in South Africa.

　President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s visit to Pearl Harbor informed the world that both leaders of the two countries recognized what happened at the beginning and end of the Pacific War and showed magnanimity. It is hoped that the leaders of Japan and neighboring Asian countries demonstrate similar magnanimity.

　Japan fought two wars during World War II, one against the United States and its allies, and another war of aggression against Asian countries. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe achieved reconciliation and good will between Japan and the United States and will hopefully succeed in achieving reconciliation with Asian neighbors.

　Please see also the past announcement on Professor Hasegawa’s lecture at the International House of Japan delivered on January 26, 2012.